Future secure for Westergate's sport centre

Freedom Leisure will operate the Six Villages Sports Centre from January 1. It has been awarded a five year contract for the facility on the Westergate Community School campus.

There is the option for a further five years.

The decision was announced by West Sussex County Council on Tuesday. Its cabinet member for finance and resources, Michael Brown, said: “We expect there will be a number of benefits for both the school and the wider community.

“This move is designed to breathe new life into the centre, with improved marketing and promotion of all that it will have to offer.”

Steve Nelmes, the school’s headteacher, said: “The governors are delighted to be starting a partnership with Freedom Leisure for the operation of the Six Villages Sports Centre.

“We look forward to even better sport and leisure facilities for our local community.”

Some 40,000 people visit the centre on Lime Avenue each year.

There are 24 members of staff at the sports centre. Seven are them are in permanent positions. They will be transferred to Freedom Leisure.

The trust has wide experience in running dual purpose sports centres with a shared school and community use.

Freedom Leisure managing director Jeff Hart said: “Our not-for-profit status and the economies of scale achieved at our large portfolio of centres across Sussex, gives us the opportunity to operate the centre more efficiently and therefore provide funding for future reinvestment.”

The sports centre was opened in January 2000 at a cost of £1.5m. It was one of the first of the Sports England lottery-funded dual use sports facilities as the community school opened.

But it struggled to break even and a county council study concluded its prospects for expansion when it was run as part of the school’s operations were limited by the number of competitors and the need to serve both pupils and villagers.