Cheshire East Council is one of over 100 local authorities to be awarded a £500,000 share of £20 million of Central Government funding, to keep their swimming pools and leisure centres open.
This is the first phase of £60 million in total to be distributed over the next few months, to assist with increased operating costs and to improve sustainability, whilst supporting Government ambition to get 3.5 million more people active by 2030
This first £20 million of funding is going to the swimming pools and leisure centres most at risk of closure or significant service reduction, and will be used to help with the recent rise in energy costs, such as paying towards immediate maintenance costs, heating and pool chemicals.
In the light of this timely support, plans by Cheshire East to consult on closing four of its Leisure Centres in Knutsford, Holmes Chapel, Middlewich and Poynton is premature - especially as Poynton is one of the centres designated to receive £46,170 of the Swimming Pool Support Grant.
It must be remembered that swimming is a valuable life skill for people of all ages, important for safety and both physical and mental health. Swim England’s latest Value of Swimming report showed how swimming helps generate social benefits, such as improved communities, skills and education worth £2.4 billion a year. Any plans to close these facilities in the short-term is a false economy that will generate significant long-term costs to health and care terms.
Today’s announcement means that 196 leisure centres and swimming pools in 103 local authorities will benefit from this funding supporting over 23 million swims a year collectively, meaning millions of people across the country will have the chance to stay fit and healthy a, contributing to the Government’s aim to cut obesity rates and get millions more people active.
Sports Minister Stuart Andrew said:
“Leisure centres and pools are vital for millions of people to stay fit and healthy, and we know that many public swimming pools are experiencing greater pressure due to increased operating costs.
We have heard their concerns and have stepped in to help them make ends meet with £20 million immediate relief, and a further £40 million to help improve sustainability of public swimming pools over the long term.
This is part of our support for grassroots sports facilities with more than £400 million in order to achieve our ambitious target of getting 3.5 million more people active by 2030.”
In addition, over the coming months the recipients of a further £40 million will be announced.
This part of the fund will be made available for investment in making the pools and leisure centres more energy efficient, including funding new heating systems and energy saving interventions. This is intended to help the long term energy and financial resilience of the sector.
It is to be hoped that Cheshire East Council will recognise the real opportunity this grant allocation provides to maintain the swimming and sport offer across the whole borough and urgently re-think their strategy.
Allocations to specific leisure centres across Cheshire East are as follows:
1. ALSAGER: £68,984
2. NANTWICH: £190,922
3. MACCLESFIELD: £66,190
4. POYNTON: £46,170
5. WILMSLOW: £127,734
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NB: The decision to proceed to consultation to withdraw funding support / close the four leisure centres will be taken on Thursday 9th November at 10.00am at Westfields, Middlewich Road, Sandbach, CW11 1HZ
https://moderngov.cheshireeast.gov.uk/ecminutes/ieListDocuments.aspx?CI…
Other references:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nearly-200-leisure-centres-supported…;
https://www.sportengland.org/news/swimming-pool-support-fund-keeps-leisure-centres-afloat
