Newark and Sherwood District Council and Southwell Leisure Centre Trust agree to transfer lease of centre after lengthy pool saga

After a lengthy saga over a town leisure centre’s leaky pool, a way forward has finally been found between a council and a trust.

Newark and Sherwood District Council and Southwell Leisure Centre Trust stated they “are very pleased to announce” that the mediation between them to resolve issues relating to the Southwell Leisure Centre lease has been successful.

The future of the centre came into question when it’s main swimming pool, which was operated by Newark and Sherwood District Council’s leisure provider Active4Today on lease from the trust, closed in October 2023 due to a 9,000-litres-a-day leak.

Newark and Sherwood District Council initially, in December 2023, announced plans for a £5.5million investment in an entirely new facility to replace the older pool, but by spring 2024 this was withdrawn due to a lack of progress and opposition from residents and trustees who favoured repair.

The council instead agreed to provide the trust with the £247,000 that was required to repair the pool, and a further £250,000 for essential dryside repairs “conditional upon the district council exiting the lease thereby leaving the trust to manage its own affairs from now on” — while a further quote obtained by the trust expected the repair to cost around £500,000 and their position was that the council had a “legal obligation to repair” the pool as part of their lease.

Both parties entered mediation in February this year to find a way forward and ensure the future of the community facility.

Following mediation it has been agreed the lease between the two parties will soon be terminated and the council will pass back to the trust responsibility for the repairs and maintenance of the centre.

The trust will be organising various discussions shortly, in order to progress repair of the main swimming pool and other issues relating to the upkeep and operation of the centre.

The trust is to keep residents informed in relation to developments.

What do you think? Are you happy with the deal struck between the two parties? Let us know your views in the comments below…