Cost of using leisure centre soars by 28%

A Felpham couple's cost of using their local leisure facilities has gone up by 28 per cent.

Jeffrey Johnston and his wife, Wendy, have been hit by the surge in the expense of visiting the Arun Leisure Centre from this week.

It has seen the introduction of a 1 levy every time they walk into the centre's steam room and sauna.

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Mr and Mrs Johnston regularly use the services during their twice weekly visits to the centre.

But those ten minute sessions are costing them 4 a week to enjoy from now on.

That equals 208 a year on top of the 720 annual membership fee which they pay.

The charge has been added to meet a HM Customs and Revenue ruling that VAT is payable on steam room and sauna usage because they are not sporting activities. This applies even to not-for-profit trusts such as the leisure centre's operator, Inspire Leisure.

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Mr Johnston (60) protested: 'That amount of an increase is totally extortionate and unreasonable in my opinion.

'I don't think it's right. It is very unfair to impose a swingeing increase like this on people. They used to have to pay VAT when the centre was run by the council so why is this charge necessary now?'

Mr Johnston, of the Summerley Estate, said his anger was increased because of the lack of warning of the extra charge.

He claimed a notice was only put up on the leisure centre's reception seven days before the charge took effect.

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'I think they should have given us much more notice than that and in writing as well,' he stated.

Mr and Mrs Johnston have been leisure centre members for many years. They usually popped into the steam room and sauna for about ten minutes after a workout and before they went home.

'I'm sure a lot of people do the same but it's going to cost an awful lot more to do that,' Mr Johnston added.

'Everything we did in the centre has been covered by our membership fee but I wonder if we are going to start to be charged for swimming next.'

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A statement issued by Inspire Leisure said it had decided to charge 1 for the steam room and sauna rather than continue to include them in membership packages and increase prices by 17.5 per cent.

'The steam room and sauna will no longer be part of the activities offered in any of our membership products.

'It is with great regret that we have been compelled to take this action,' the statement continued.

'The action is consistent with some other trusts in the region.

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'This is an unfortunate situation but one that affects all '˜not for profit' organisations in the country. We appreciate that this will not come as welcome news to our members and can only apologise.'

Inspire Leisure took over Arun District Council's leisure services in April 2006 to reduce the cost of running the facilites on council tax payers. The VAT-free status of the trust was seen as one of its advantages.

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