Cllr Will Sandry and Cllr David Dixon with Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate Steve Bradley
Photo by Paul Gillis – PaulGillisphoto.com
The forthcoming revamp of the Bath sports and leisure centre will add ten pin bowling and climbing to the activities on offer at the popular city centre venue.
B&NES’ Lib Dem-run Council is currently reviewing two final bids for a £15m+ investment into leisure facilities across the area. The bowling and climbing plan are included in both offers.
Councillor David Dixon (Lib Dem, Oldfield) has been the Cabinet member responsible for brokering this new deal. He commented:
“I am delighted that we are now just weeks away from announcing the preferred bidder who will take over the running of our local leisure facilities and invest in improving them. We all know just how tired Bath Sports and Leisure Centre is looking. The Liberal Democrats have worked hard to bring forward concrete proposals and we are now on the cusp of signing a deal.”
“The Liberal Democrats took control of B&NES Council in 2011. At that point, the future of leisure in the area was looking bleak. The outgoing Conservative administration left a legacy of poor contract management, no strategy and no funding.
“The Lib Dems have already delivered a completely revamped Odd Down Sports Ground with 3G pitches, a new pavilion and cycle circuit. We signed off a new and improved strategy for leisure last year and started the search for a new operations partner.”
City-centre Councillor Manda Rigby (Lib Dem, Abbey) added:
“Our strategy for leisure activities in Bath is ambitious and fully funded with no extra expense to the tax payer. It will see ten pin bowling and a climbing wall included in the contract for Bath Sports and Leisure Centre alongside heavy investment in the changing facilities and a new learner pool.
“Keynsham will get a brand new leisure centre and we will secure the future of Culverhay as a much-loved sports centre to the south of the city. I am delighted with the hard work that has been put in by Council Officers over the past years who have shared our vision to make this a reality”
Councillor Katie Hall (Lib Dem, Lyncombe) said:
“Bowling and climbing are great activities which have a lot of appeal for families and young people. These will be a fantastic addition to the wide range of leisure activities already on offer locally.
“The fact that there will not be a bar associated with the bowling alley is particularly welcome and will help create health-focussed, family-friendly atmosphere. “
Steve Bradley, Liberal Democrat candidate to become MP for Bath, said:
“Local residents have a clear choice on May 7th between a forward-thinking and ambitious Liberal Democrat-run Council, which will deliver concrete improvements and a hesitant Tory-run Council that will steer clear of the hard-to-do issues.”
The preferred final bidder will be announced within weeks.
· Two bidders remain; both are charitable trusts with significant leisure experience, who are committed to working with the Council to deliver its objectives of raising levels of physical activity and tacking health inequalities as set out in the Fit for Life strategy.
· The contract will deliver in excess of £15 million of investment to modernise and upgrade its leisure centres
· It will provide a major refurbishment of Bath Sports and Leisure Centre which will include new family-focused activities such as 10 pin bowling, a climbing wall, enhanced soft play as well as complete refurbishment of the changing facilities, fitness suite and studio space.
· There will also be improvements to Culverhay Leisure Centre and a potential new build leisure facility in Keynsham to include a swimming pool, learner pool, fitness suite and studio space
· The new contract will also cover Chew Valley Leisure Centre, Odd Down Playing Fields and the Pavilion.