A £63m boost for swimming pools across England could offer a “lifeline” for at-risk leisure centres in Gateshead, it is hoped.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will outline plans in his Spring Budget today for a major new fund to help struggling facilities with spiralling energy bills and maintenance costs. The revelation has been met with cautious optimism in Gateshead, where there has been a public backlash in recent months over council budget cuts that could see two leisure centres shut down.
Gateshead Leisure Centre and Birtley Swimming Centre are the two sites currently earmarked for the chop, though the plans have been paused to allow for extra public consultation and possible community asset transfers to rescue the facilities. While local authority bosses admit it is too early to know what impact the new fund, to be managed by Sport England, might have in Gateshead, the commitment has been welcomed.
