Financial situation rules out replacement of ageing leisure centres

Replacing Anglesey’s ageing leisure centres would cost between £15-£20m each, councillors have been warned amid suggestions that continued maintenance works is the only option for now.

A new Wales Audit Office report also stated that “run-down facilities” would pose “a financial challenge” over the coming years – adding that the council has continued to deliver its leisure portfolio despite fewer resources, and praising its “clear vision” for the future of the service,

The independent auditors found that since their last report in 2014/15, the number of people using Anglesey’s sport and leisure centres has increased by 8%, with the authority establishing a “more commercial approach and culture” to raise income levels and reduce the annual subsidy from council coffers.

But with three of the island’s four centres having been built during the 1970s, and despite acknowledging modernisation efforts including new equipment and revamping the payment and booking system, overall building infrastructure was said to be “run down and inefficient.”

Among recent improvements are the refurbishment of fitness rooms and purchasing brand new equipment, a new 3G pitch at Plas Arthur and the fitting of  LED lighting within each leisure centre to reduce energy costs.

Most service users were found to be at least ‘satisfied’ with the current level of service,  with exactly half thought that the quality of the service had improved in recent years and the council’s intention to retain its four current centres at Holyhead, Llangefni, Amlwch and Menai Bridge.

But the report said: “The council has assessed its buildings and found them to be run down and in need of refurbishment, which increases the risk of incurring additional cost.

“The council has considered its financial position, its scope to invest and the impact of the suspension of a nuclear build project in delivering its plan. It recognises that securing enough capital funding together to improve the leisure centres will be a challenge.”

Discussing the report during Tuesday’s Audit Committee meeting, the authority’s head of finance said the authority was aware of a need to spend on the leisure centres.

Marc Jones  added: “An outside company was brought in to assess what work was needed on the buildings to bring them up to scratch or to outsource the service like some other authorities have.

“Our problem is that three of the four centres were built during the same period and are coming to the end of their lifespan to be honest, Holyhead is in a worse condition than Plas Arthur and Amlwch but to build a new centre you’re looking at £15m-£20m.
“In the current climate its extremely difficult for us to find that kind of capital.
“If Wylfa Newydd was going ahead that was one potential source to fund new centres in Amlwch and Holyhead, making it more possible to do something about Llangefni, but with Wylfa in the long grass the council will now have to review matters.
“As things stand it’s a case of ongoing maintenance and extending the lifespan of these buildings and hoping the financial situation will be better.
“Given the circumstances I’m not sure we have another choice.”

But with the island set to welcome the international Island Games – currently set for 2027 – the authority’s commercial leisure manager stressed that there was no expectation for a significant upgrade of sporting facilities beforehand.

Gerallt Roberts added: “The bid was submitted and approved on the basis of what we have now, clearly if we improve the facilities by then it will be great news but there are no major pots of cash automatically forthcoming.

“We received a small grant to host the football tournament but nothing has been earmarked as things stand.”

By Gareth Williams – Local Democracy Reporter