Listening, Learning, and Looking Ahead Together

We’ve been reading your comments and messages following our recent update, and we want to start by saying thank you, not just for taking the time to share your views, but for showing how deeply you care about Southwell Leisure Centre. We know that behind every comment, whether it’s frustration, disappointment, or encouragement, there’s a shared wish: for our community to have the best possible leisure facilities.

We also know there’s confusion, concern, and in some cases, mistrust about how and why certain decisions have been made. We want to take this opportunity to answer some of those questions, be as open as we can, and explain why we believe the approach we’ve taken is the best route to a sustainable future for the Centre.

Keeping the Centre open

In May 2025, when the lease was surrendered and the Trust regained control of the Leisure Centre, we were able to start looking to the future. The Trustees were then able to assess the situation in detail and begin shaping a plan to secure the Centre’s long-term sustainability.

That same month, we were able to negotiate an agreement with Active4Today to continue operating the Leisure Centre until March 2026. This arrangement was made to ensure the Centre stayed open, to maintain routine for members and staff, and to give us breathing space while we made plans for the future.

We are asking the community to support both the Leisure Centre and Active4Today by keeping memberships active and coming back to enjoy the facilities currently on offer. Every membership helps to reduce the monthly deficit we incur to keep the Centre running.

We do not yet know who will be operating the Leisure Centre from April next year, but please be assured, if the operator changes, no one will be tied into a membership they cannot use.

The financial reality

The Leisure Centre has operated at a deficit for many years, and the Trust is now funding that shortfall to keep the doors open.

Over the past few months, we’ve reviewed the finances carefully and faced a difficult truth: if the Leisure Centre continues to operate exactly as it does now, the Trust will run out of money within just a couple of years, and the Centre would be forced to close.

As Trustees, our primary responsibility is to safeguard the long-term future of Southwell Leisure Centre. That means we must look at every possible option to secure its survival for decades to come.

Why we haven’t repaired the pool immediately

When we first took back control of the Leisure Centre, our priority was to investigate the cause of the pool damage and find a workable repair solution. Those investigations uncovered complex underground structural problems. We have been engaging with specialists to find the best and most efficient solutions for the pool repair.

We’ve chosen to include the pool repair in the remit of the new long-term operator. By waiting a few extra months, we can bring in an experienced leisure operator with greater expertise, industry contacts, and buying power than the Trust could access alone — enabling our limited funds to go further and be used more effectively.

This approach ensures:

• Repairs are delivered more efficiently and cost-effectively.

• The pool is reopened as part of a wider plan for the Centre’s success.

We know this means the pool won’t reopen as quickly as we’d all like — and we share your disappointment — but we believe this is the most responsible way to protect the Trust’s resources and deliver a lasting solution for our community leisure centre.

The tender process: looking to the future

The tender exercise we have launched is our opportunity to select an operator who can give our Leisure Centre the very best chance to turn around and become a sustainable business for the long term.

Our vision for the future goes beyond simply “keeping the lights on.” We want Southwell Leisure Centre to be:

• A hub for health and wellness — offering affordable, inclusive activities that support physical and mental well-being for all ages.

• A true community space — where residents feel ownership, connection, and a say in its direction.

• A place for learning and opportunity — with training, apprenticeships, and youth development programmes.

• Fully accessible — ensuring no barriers to participation, with facilities and programmes for people of all abilities.

• Sustainable and forward-thinking — reducing environmental impact and exploring green innovations.

• Culturally enriching — hosting events, performances, and exhibitions that celebrate the diversity of our community.

Rest assured, we have no intention of turning the Centre into a private members club. Our vision is, and always will be, to provide an affordable leisure facility for the whole community, accessible, inclusive, and welcoming to all.

We hear you on transparency

Several comments have called for more open communication. You’re right, and we’re taking that on board. Over the coming weeks we will:

• Publish a clearer timeline for the operator appointment and pool repair process.

• Introduce a Community Feedback Program so the community can have a direct voice in shaping the Centre’s future.

The current Leisure Centre Trustees are: Andrew Wilson, Jo Harbord, Alison Berwick, Andy Worrall, Jonathan Mitchell, John Lightwood, and Verdun Webley.

We believe that social media is not the best platform for detailed debate, but we will continue to use it to share updates. If you have further questions or comments, we are always open to conversations. You can contact us directly at southwellleisurecentretrust@gmail.com

We can’t undo the frustrations of the past two years, but we can promise to keep listening, keep communicating, and keep working towards a future where Southwell Leisure Centre is once again the thriving hub our community deserves.

We share your passion, we share your impatience, and above all, we share your commitment to making sure the Centre not only survives, but thrives, for decades to come.

Southwell Leisure Centre Trust