Shropshire leisure centres to be taken over

Five of Shropshire's biggest leisure centres are set to be taken over by a private firm.

Serco has been named by Shropshire Council as the preferred bidder to run Market Drayton Swimming Centre, Oswestry Leisure Centre, Shrewsbury Sports Village and Indoor Bowls Hall, Whitchurch Swimming Centre and the Quarry Swimming and Fitness Centre.

If talks are successful Serco will take charge of the sites – and the 162 people working there – from July for the next ten years.

Staff will be transferred under the current terms and conditions of their contracts.

The bid was approved by the council's cabinet at Shirehall yesterday. The council, which pays £1.2m a year to run the centres, claims it will save £350,000 a year in subsidy payments.

Under the deal the contractor will draw up an annual business plan which will need to be approved by Shropshire Council.

Chief executive Kim Ryley said: "The staff have guaranteed jobs for 10 years, all their entitlements and pensions are protected and the public know the centres are going to get investment to keep them high quality for at least 10 years."

Steve Charmley, cabinet member for active and healthy lifestyles, said: "Subject to the successful conclusion of detailed negotiations, Serco will manage five of our leisure centres.

"We hope to award the contract to the company which submitted the best bid both in terms of quality and price."