Councillor Naomi Tweddle is hopeful that two of Lincoln’s leisure centres, Yarborough and Birchwood, will be back in operation by mid-July. These facilities were forced to shut their doors recently when Active Nation, the operator, abruptly ceased trading. The City of Lincoln Council, which had contracted Active Nation to manage these centres, is now in the process of securing a new provider in what Councillor Tweddle describes as a ‘rocket pace’ operation. The closure left numerous gym-goers and sports clubs stranded, and while some outdoor facilities were reopened over the weekend, the council has stated that indoor amenities like the swimming pool and gym are expected to remain closed for about three months due to the time required to establish a new contract. Despite the delay, this is still considerably quicker than the usual timeline of nine to twelve months. The new contract will span two years, in line with the council’s emergency procurement rules, and several potential contractors have already expressed their interest. The sudden closure was attributed by Active Nation to increasing energy costs and living expenses. Last year, the operator reported a deficit of over £1m in its accounts submitted to the Charity Commission, which has since opened a case to investigate the company’s financial management and governance.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.
