OPENING hours at some of the city’s struggling leisure centres will be cut in a bid to save money.
Worcester City Council will slash opening times at Nunnery Wood Sports Complex as well as close Perdiswell Leisure Centre earlier as a way of cutting costs.
The opening times at St John's Sports Centre would remain the same.
Opening hours at Nunnery Wood Sports Centre would be cut to 3pm to 10pm between Monday and Thursday, 3pm to 9pm on Fridays and 8am to 1pm on weekends.
Perdiswell Leisure Centre would close an hour earlier on weekdays from 6am to 9pm.
READ MORE: Taxpayer bailout for Worcester leisure centres in energy crisis
The city council’s communities committee backed the cost-cutting measures, which will begin from April and are expected to save around £40,000 a year, at a meeting in the Guildhall on Wednesday (January 25).
Freedom Leisure said it had already lowered pool temperatures, turned off air conditioning for large parts of the day, cut classes with low turnout and upgraded lighting and insulation in a bid to save money and cut the cost of its bills.
Prices at the three leisure centres are also set to rise by an average of almost nine per cent to boost funds.
The communities committee also discussed other support for the city’s struggling leisure centres including £550,000 for energy-efficiency work as well as handing over £315,000 to help Freedom Leisure, which runs Perdiswell, Nunnery Wood and the St John’s leisure centres on behalf of the council, pay its energy bills in the next 12 months.
READ MORE: Worcester council leader Chris Mitchell slams parking fees decision
Councillors supported bailing out Freedom Leisure but a final decision has still not been made as the plans need to be discussed by other committees before the final say is left with full council when it meets at the end of February to sign off on its budget for the next year.
A review of the council’s contract with Freedom Leisure suggested looking at reducing opening times at Perdiswell Leisure Centre and Nunnery Wood Sports Centre – and even closing St John’s Sports Centre completely – as a way of saving money.
READ MORE: New plan revealed for more homes in village
READ MORE: Controversial plan for flats in St John's in Worcester returns
However, council bosses decided against closing the centre and instead pushed ahead with reducing opening hours to make the savings.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel