Concern New Leisure Centre Plan Is Facing Delay

Harborough Council insists the plan for new Leisure Centre for Market Harborough remains on the table, despite announcing it’s to appoint a firm to continue managing the current facility for at least the next three years.

It had been hoped the contract from next year would have been awarded to a company who would design, build and operate the new facility, as well as upgrading Lutterworth Leisure Centre.

That tender process has been delayed, and although bosses insist it is on-going, a new interim contract has to be put in place, before the current one with the Harborough District Leisure Trust and Serco ends in April 2019.

Cllr Phil Knowles, Leader of the Opposition, is one of those concerned:

Cllr James Hallam, the Council’s portfolio holder responsible for Strategic Asset Management, said: “We are committed to providing more leisure opportunities and improving our existing leisure centres in a way that is timely and cost-effective for the taxpayer.  It is important for our residents that we take the time to explore all options to ensure we get value for money and that the public are able to continue to use and enjoy the services our leisure centres currently have to offer while this major project moves forward.”

£15m has been set-aside for a new Leisure Centre in the Council’s budget.