The City of Lincoln Council is poised to launch an urgent search for a temporary operator of the city’s closed leisure centres, Yarborough and Birchwood. The previous operator, Active Nation, ceased trading unexpectedly, leaving the centres in limbo. An emergency council meeting is set for next week, on April 15th, to green light this procurement process with the aim of finding a contractor to manage the centres for the forthcoming two years. The future beyond that remains uncertain, with the council intending to utilise this interim period to deliberate the future of leisure services in the area. Several potential operators have already expressed interest, but official discussions cannot commence until the council gives its approval. The council also disclosed that they had offered a £480,000 support package to Active Nation prior to their cessation of trading, but it was declined for reasons unknown. The council’s Strategic Director of Communities and Environment, Simon Walters, emphasised the importance of these centres in supporting the well-being of the local residents and stressed the urgency of their reopening. He stated that the proposed course of action presents the quickest pathway to reopening the centres, allowing an experienced leisure provider to take over and ensure their success. Active Nation expressed their regret over the closures and thanked the Lincoln community for their support since 2007.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk.
