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Closed leisure centres set to reopen in July

David McKenna
BBC News
City of Lincoln Council A large swimming pool with blue water and dark blue lane markings in an indoor leisure centre. The walls are white, the tiles beige, and glass windows dominate one end. In the foreground, steel steps descend into the pool. City of Lincoln Council
Yarborough and Birchwood leisure centres in Lincoln shut their doors in April

Two Lincoln leisure centre which closed suddenly last month are expected to fully reopen by mid-July, a council has said.

Yarborough and Birchwood leisure centres in Lincoln closed on 3 April after Active Nation, the charity that ran them, ceased trading.

City of Lincoln Council, which owned the buildings, said it had now appointed charitable social enterprise Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) as the interim operator for both facilities for a period of two years.

GLL operated more than 250 leisure centres in partnership with local authorities around the country, including in neighbouring North Kesteven.

'Proven capability'

A head and shoulders photograph of councillor Naomi Tweddle. She is standing in a room with table and chairs behind her and is wearing a bright pink suit jacket.
Council leader Naomi Tweddle has previously said the authority was "working at rocket pace" to resolve the situation

Council leader Naomi Tweddle said: "We are extremely pleased to confirm the appointment of GLL as our interim operator of these vital leisure centres.

"Their experience and proven capability will be essential in getting both Yarborough and Birchwood Leisure Centres back up and running for the community."

Ms Tweddle also praised the Lincoln City Foundation - the charitable arm of Lincoln City Football Club - for "stepping in" to run outdoor facilities at both sites a week after the closures, as well as thanking residents for their patience "while we got this matter sorted".

City of Lincoln Council People playing netball on a sports pitch on a sunny day. There are floodlights and a football pitch in the background.City of Lincoln Council
GLL will manage the indoor and outdoor facilities at both leisure centres for an interim period of two years, the council said

Chris Hebblewhite, director of standards and compliance at GLL, said they were working to reopen the facilities "as quickly and safely as we can".

"We'll be reaching out to customers this summer providing further details on programmes, hips and the lessons and courses that will be available," he said.

He said work would also be taking place to replace gym equipment and the "look" of the facilities, with job opportunities in fitness, customer services, lifeguarding and management.

At the time of the closures, Active Nation, a charity based in Warwickshire, blamed "the ongoing utility crisis and the challenges it has created" for the decision to cease trading.

The council said it had offered the charity a package of almost £500,000 over two years, with conditions attached, but this had not been taken up.

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