Leisure operator plan to invest £10m in facilities

A leisure operator said it planned to invest nearly £10m in facilities in Surrey if it took over a council contract.

Guildford Borough Council said the existing leisure contract, which oversees the management at Guildford Spectrum, Guildford Lido and Ash Manor Sports Centre, is due to expire on 31 October.

A spokesperson for the council said: "Following a thorough commercial and technical evaluation, Freedom Leisure scored the highest total score and has therefore emerged as the preferred bidder."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Freedom Leisure plans to install a "state-of-the-art" soft play facility at Spectrum Gym and add all-year-round swimming in the Lido.

It plans to operate the Lido pool from 07:00 BST to 21:00 BST during the winter months, subject to the installation of external lighting.

It also proposes adding a Pilates and yoga/hot yoga studio to replace the existing gym.

Councillor Catherine Houston said the popularity of the facilities had attracted "significant interest" from major leisure operators.

"I look forward to seeing more opportunities for people to take part in leisure and well-being activities over the coming years," she added.

The council said the proposed new contract would run for 10 years, with the option to extend for a further five years, offering "long-term stability and continuity for the borough's leisure provision".

Councillors will discuss the new contract agreement before a final decision is made at the end of July.

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