NEW ERA FOR LEISURE SERVICES

The company that will take over the running of Erewash Borough Council’s leisure services has been confirmed as Parkwood Leisure Ltd. Parkwood will manage the council’s leisure services as part of a ten-year contract, resulting in substantial savings for the authority. Parkwood will take over leisure services at Victoria Park Leisure Centre, Rutland Sports Park and Pewitt Golf Course in Ilkeston, as well as West Park Leisure Centre in Long Eaton and Friesland Sports Centre in Sandiacre.

Parkwood will take the leisure services forward from early 2019, with a number of improvements set to be made including the expansion and improvement of gym facilities; new gym, spin and weight lifting equipment; improvements to customer retail and vending facilities, and the introduction of a number of new activities.

Outsourcing the provision of the leisure service will save the council approximately £6 million over ten years. Approximately £1.3 million is expected to be invested to improve facilities for residents with Parkwood Leisure investing £800,000 with a further £500,000 earmarked for upgrading the leisure centres through a loan from the council to be paid back over the term of the contract.

The council has built into the contract protection for a number of local clubs and groups and an agreement that prices will be frozen for a minimum of six months. Councillor Mike Wallis, Lead Member for Culture and Leisure at Erewash Borough Council, says: “Our residents and leisure customers have been at the heart of this process throughout. There has been a commitment to achieve two key aims: to ensure the leisure facilities on offer are invested in and improved and that we, as a council, achieve the important savings we need in these financially challenging times. We believe those aims will be more than achieved and customers will see enhanced facilities and a new programme of activities at our leisure centres. This marks a new era for leisure services in Erewash and we look forward to seeing Parkwood’s plans put into action.”

Peter Fitzboydon, Managing Director of Parkwood Leisure, says:  “Parkwood Leisure has more than 20 years’ experience in running leisure centres. Recently we have invested in our staff and improved our customer experience to help achieve our overall company objective: helping the local community to be happier and healthier. We look forward to working with the council.