FREEDOM Leisure has been named as the organisation to run Worcester’s new £10.5million swimming pool when it opens its doors in 2017.
The charitable not-for-profit organisation will also take on the operation of Worcester City Council’s sports centres at Nunnery Wood, St John’s, Perdiswell and, until its closure, the existing swimming pool at Sansome Walk.
Freedom Leisure has secured an initial ten-year contract with the City Council that will take effect from January 1 2016, with the option of a further three-year extension to be agreed in the future.
Freedom Leisure is the trading name of Wealden Leisure Ltd, a charity that operates more than 50 leisure centres across the country on a not-for-profit basis.
The firm has won several other recent contracts to operate local authority sports centres, in areas including Malvern Hills, the Forest of Dean and Powys.
Coun Mike Johnson, cabinet member for Sport, Leisure and Retail, said: “I am delighted to welcome Freedom Leisure to Worcester.
“They submitted a strong, compelling bid for this contract, one that allows us to move from paying an annual £300,000 subsidy to support our sports facilities to receiving an annual payment.
“I am confident they are the right people to enhance Worcester’s growing reputation as a vibrant sporting city and we welcome the opportunity to work in partnership with them,” he added.
Ian Morey, Freedom Leisure Business Development Director, said: “The new pool and Worcester City Council’s other sports centres will create a fantastic opportunity to cement Worcester’s place on the sporting map.
“We are looking forward to bringing high quality health, fitness and leisure activities to local residents,” he added.
The new swimming pool at Perdiswell Leisure Centre is scheduled to open in early 2017 at which time the current Sansome Walk swimming pool will be closed.
