On the 19th September, members of the city council met and agreed that the council should invest up to £8 million in improving the sport and leisure facilities at GL1.

The council decision also included the awarding of a 15-year contract to manage GL1 and the Oxstalls Tennis Centre.

It was the first major decision to be made by the full council since the elections on 2nd May, and it was satisfying to see the three major parties voting together.

We all remember the collapse of the previous provider, Aspire Sports and Cultural Trust, and the closure of the Barton Pool for 44 days. One hundred and fifty jobs were lost overnight. All staff were offered an interview and about 80 were employed by the interim provider, Freedom Leisure.

As the council leader and also as a swimmer and user of GL1, I am pleased to have secured the vote at full council. The project was led by cabinet members Councillor Declan Wilson and Councillor Caroline Courtney, and followed on from a project plan established under the former administration.

Improved facilities, increased usage and additional income

The new provider contract will run from the 2nd January. The £8 million investment will also see improvements to GL1 that will deliver improved facilities, increased usage and additional income. For the first time in many years the management fee will result in a surplus income rather than a deficit to the council.

The new long term provider will be Freedom Leisure who were taken on as the interim provider at the end of 2023. Freedom Leisure is one of the leading charitable not-for-profit leisure trusts in the UK, managing over 120 leisure and cultural facilities on behalf of partners across England and Wales.

They have also committed to making swimming more accessible for the whole community and to further expand the successful swimming lesson programme for both adults and children.