Bridgwater leisure centres could be under new management

Bridgwater-based 1610 currently operates two leisure centres in the town under a contract with Somerset Council: the Trinity Sports and Leisure Centre on Chilton Road (next to Chilton Trinity School) and the Robert Blake and Elmwood Leisure Centre on Hamp Avenue (next to Robert Blake School).

The firm’s contract is currently due to expire in September 2025 – meaning the council will either need to agree an extension or to secure a new provider to run these facilities.

The council has now confirmed it will be undertaking a procurement process early in the new year, which could lead to a new company running both sites until 2037.

The possible provider change was revealed before the council’s communities scrutiny committee met in Taunton on October 30.

The council currently owns 16 leisure facilities, all of which are operated by external operators.

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Because these contracts were inherited from the four district councils when the unitary authority took control in April 2023, numerous different companies are involved in different parts of the county – and the contracts do not all expire at the same time.

In the former Mendip area, Fusion Lifestyle (which is based in Dartford) runs the following facilities on a lease basis, which runs out in May 2065:

• Frome Sport & Fitness, Princess Anne Road, Frome
• Tor Sports & Fitness, A361 Street Road, Glastonbury
• Shepton Mallet Lido, Shaftgate Avenue, Shepton Mallet
• Strode Swimming & Fitness, Strode Road, Street
• Wells Sports & Fitness, Charter Way, Wells

In the former South Somerset area, Freedom Leisure (which is based in East Sussex) runs the following facilities on a contract which expires in March 2036:

• Chard Leisure Centre, A358 Silver Street, Chard
• Wincanton Leisure Centre, West Hill, Wincanton
• Goldenstones Leisure Centre, Brunswick Street, Yeovil
• Westlands Sports and Fitness Centre, Westbourne Close, Yeovil

In the former Somerset West and Taunton area, Everyone Active (part of the Leicestershire-based Sports and Leisure Management) has a contract to run the following facilities until March 2035:

• Taunton Pool, A3038 Station Road, Taunton
• Blackbrook Leisure Centre & Spa, Blackbrook Way, Taunton
• Wellsprings Leisure Centre, Cheddon Road, Taunton
• Vivary Golf & Adventure Centre, Vivary Park, Taunton (until March 2030)
• Wellington Sports Centre, Corams Lane, Wellington

Regarding the two Bridgwater sites, a spokesman said: “We are currently undertaking market engagement ahead of a procurement for a contract for the leisure facilities in the former Sedgemoor area to run until 2037.

“The proposed end date is to coincide with the end of the existing private finance initiative (PFI) contract at these leisure facilities.”