Future of Gateshead Leisure Centre and Birtley Swim Centre confirmed
The recommendation to close Gateshead Leisure Centre and Birtley Swimming Centre has been approved by Cabinet today (Tuesday 20 June). Both centres will remain open until 21 July before closing their doors, after which it is hoped that two community groups will take over the leisure centres in the near future.
Due to rapidly rising running costs and substantial cuts to the council budget, there has been no option but to review leisure services. The rationalisation will reduce the services' reliance on subsidy from the council - funds will be redirected to sustain essential services used by our most vulnerable residents.
In October 2022, a report to Cabinet recommended the closure of Gateshead and Dunston leisure centres, however through a period of public consultation it was identified that Birtley Swim Centre and Gateshead Leisure Centre should close. In January, Cabinet agreed that a further period of public consultation to inform the review was to be re-opened for a period of at least three months, during which any new representations would be invited, particularly from the Birtley and Lamesley communities and users of Birtley Swimming Centre. The consultation received an additional 2,100 responses these were carefully analysed and considered but did not change the outcome of the review.
The three-month extension has provided us with valuable time to work with two community groups who have expressed an interest in taking over the leisure centres. We have provided the groups with expertise from across the council to help the groups present a viable business plan.
Leader of Gateshead Council, Councillor Martin Gannon said:
"It's with a heavy heart that we have approved today's recommendations and that we will see two of our leisure centres close. We've had no choice after government cuts to funding, we've used our reserves to sustain the leisure centres during the extension to the consultation period - these funds are not infinite.
"We will continue to put every effort into supporting the community asset transfer groups to ensure they are able to present a viable business plan. The plans which the community groups have presented to us are really exciting, they've filled me with hope that these centres will reopen as thriving hubs of the community."
Director of Public Health, Alice Wiseman said:
"Today's decision is extremely regrettable and has not been recommended without very careful consideration. I appreciate the impact this will have on our local communities and completely understand their concerns, but due to our difficult financial situation we are simply unable to keep running these sites whilst delivering our essential services. We must prioritise the support that benefits the greatest number of people and those that need it most.
"Moving forward, we will work to ensure that all our residents can access inclusive and affordable opportunities to get active through our community-based projects. We will also be able to strengthen the service we run from our remaining leisure centres, with additional opening hours in place from 22 July. GO Gateshead members can also take advantage of 1:1 fitness plans created by our experienced and knowledgeable leisure services colleagues at no extra cost.
"And to ensure that our children do not lose the opportunity to learn to swim, school swimming lessons that usually take place at Birtley Swimming Centre and Gateshead Leisure Centre will be transferred to other pools."
The recommendation to close Gateshead Leisure Centre and Birtley Swimming Centre has been approved by Cabinet today (Tuesday 20 June). Both centres will remain open until 21 July before closing their doors, after which it is hoped that two community groups will take over the leisure centres in the near future.
Due to rapidly rising running costs and substantial cuts to the council budget, there has been no option but to review leisure services. The rationalisation will reduce the services' reliance on subsidy from the council - funds will be redirected to sustain essential services used by our most vulnerable residents.
In October 2022, a report to Cabinet recommended the closure of Gateshead and Dunston leisure centres, however through a period of public consultation it was identified that Birtley Swim Centre and Gateshead Leisure Centre should close. In January, Cabinet agreed that a further period of public consultation to inform the review was to be re-opened for a period of at least three months, during which any new representations would be invited, particularly from the Birtley and Lamesley communities and users of Birtley Swimming Centre. The consultation received an additional 2,100 responses these were carefully analysed and considered but did not change the outcome of the review.
The three-month extension has provided us with valuable time to work with two community groups who have expressed an interest in taking over the leisure centres. We have provided the groups with expertise from across the council to help the groups present a viable business plan.
Leader of Gateshead Council, Councillor Martin Gannon said:
"It's with a heavy heart that we have approved today's recommendations and that we will see two of our leisure centres close. We've had no choice after government cuts to funding, we've used our reserves to sustain the leisure centres during the extension to the consultation period - these funds are not infinite.
"We will continue to put every effort into supporting the community asset transfer groups to ensure they are able to present a viable business plan. The plans which the community groups have presented to us are really exciting, they've filled me with hope that these centres will reopen as thriving hubs of the community."
Director of Public Health, Alice Wiseman said:
"Today's decision is extremely regrettable and has not been recommended without very careful consideration. I appreciate the impact this will have on our local communities and completely understand their concerns, but due to our difficult financial situation we are simply unable to keep running these sites whilst delivering our essential services. We must prioritise the support that benefits the greatest number of people and those that need it most.
"Moving forward, we will work to ensure that all our residents can access inclusive and affordable opportunities to get active through our community-based projects. We will also be able to strengthen the service we run from our remaining leisure centres, with additional opening hours in place from 22 July. GO Gateshead members can also take advantage of 1:1 fitness plans created by our experienced and knowledgeable leisure services colleagues at no extra cost.
"And to ensure that our children do not lose the opportunity to learn to swim, school swimming lessons that usually take place at Birtley Swimming Centre and Gateshead Leisure Centre will be transferred to other pools."
