Residents in Calverton have branded plans that could put their popular village leisure centre at risk of closure “bang out of order”.
Gedling Borough Council is reviewing its entire leisure offer as part of a new strategy to make its portfolio more financially sustainable.
It currently provides an annual £1.3 million subsidy to help run all of its leisure centres which the Labour-led authority says is “not sustainable”.
As part of the review, it is looking at how it manages joint-use sites, including Calverton Leisure Centre.
Council documents reveal it is considering withdrawing from the joint agreement to run the facility off Flatts Lane, but residents and some councillors fear this could result in its closure.
Residents in Calverton told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the plans were “bang out of order”.
Ken Leverton, who ran an MOT garage, said he has used the leisure centre for the gym and yoga classes. Both, he says, were very busy, with classes regularly booked up.
“It is bang out of order,” he said, emphasising the news of possible cuts to public services had made him angry.
“It is another facility that people are paying council tax for, so what are people paying their council tax for? The roads are terrible, and now they could withdraw from running this?
“I could understand it if it was not being used, but you have to book the classes weeks in advance. The gym was always busy when I used it.”
Eleanor Hardy has recently moved into the new Forest View housing estate in Calverton.
She said it would be nice for her daughter, nine, to use the centre when she is older.
“It would be a shame to lose a leisure centre as Calverton is a growing little village with the new estates,” she said.
“I know my nephew and brother use the gym. The next closest would be Arnold so you’d have to drive or get the bus.”
Rachael Gill, who has lived in the village for more than 20 years, said: “My son who is 15 uses it. I would have to drive him or he’d have to get the bus to Redhill, so he would only be able to go when I am free.”
Debra Groves, who has lived in Calverton for 27 years says her grandkids use the facility. She added: “It would be a shame, really.
“There is not a lot in the village, and it is getting bigger.”
Calverton Leisure Centre is currently operated and managed by the council, but there are joint-use agreements in place with Redhill Academy Trust, which runs the school site, and Nottinghamshire County Council, which owns the site.
The new strategy recommends the centre is retained for community use “in the short term”.
However, over the long term, the strategy could give the council “the opportunity to transfer management back to the school and Nottinghamshire County Council, or work with another provider to manage to reduce the council’s liability.”
Council documents also cite a condition survey from 2017 that claims £44,000 in repairs are needed at the facility.
However, these claims have been disputed and branded “out of date”, particularly with the pool having undergone a £50,000 refurbishment in 2020.
“They have got all new lighting, new flooring, the plant for the pool is in tip-top condition,” Cllr Andy Meads (Ind) previously said.
“They have got no expectation of any costs coming up. [They say] demand for classes and sessions are in decline, that was another old one and is not true at all. There are waiting lists. If Calverton shut, these people couldn’t be accommodated at the other leisure centres.”
Under the strategy the council is hoping to replace the ageing Richard Herrod Centre and Carlton Forum Leisure Centre with a new purpose-built facility called Carlton Active.
It would be built where Richard Herrod currently stands.
Cllr Meads said the council should focus on investing in existing facilities across the borough, not just those serving people in Carlton and Arnold.
Cllr Henry Wheeler (Lab), portfolio holder for lifestyles, health and wellbeing, said: “I want to make it absolutely clear at the outset no decision has been made about withdrawing the joint-use agreement at Calverton, Redhill or Carlton Forum.
“The council’s leisure portfolio is not financially sustainable in its current form.
“Joint-use sites are also allocated on school sites not owned by the borough council, which significantly limits our ability to invest, to modernise or plan for the long term.
“In September cabinet agreed in light of these pressures consultation should be undertaken on whether the council should continue to directly operate leisure services from joint use sites, and if not what alternative models could reduce financial risk.”
The strategy is expected to be considered again in March.
