New leisure centre plans announced for Crowborough and Hailsham

The plans include a new training pool extension at the Freedom Leisure Centre in Crowborough and the creation of a new town centre leisure centre in Hailsham as part of the Hailsham Aspires project.

Councillor Philip Lunn, Wealden cabinet member for community and public health, said: “Health and fitness are so important to every generation within Wealden.

“The changes we are putting in place today will help to greatly improve swimming facilities in the north of the district.

“The improvements for Hailsham, which will involve a new centre, are even more exciting.

“We will be consulting fully about the future new provisions in the months ahead.”

To help deliver these improvements, the district council will be seeking support from Sport England’s Strategic Facility Fund.

The council owns the Hailsham leisure building and has a long lease on Crowborough leisure centre.

The four leisure centres in Wealden are managed by Freedom Leisure.

The district council leases the two centres at Uckfield and Heathfield from East Sussex County Council, where they form part of a larger community college site.

This week’s cabinet meeting also agreed to end its lease of the Uckfield and Heathfield buildings, removing an unnecessary layer of management, when the current period expires in 2022.

These will revert back to the county council.

Mr Lunn added: “We wanted to make this decision as soon as possible to provide certainty for both the colleges and East Sussex County Council.

“It will help them plan for the future and ensure a smooth transition of services.

“It is vital that all Wealden’s existing leisure centres continue to provide as much community access as possible.”