Council have rallied round to ensure venues stay open for residents
Shepton Mallet Lido
A charity that runs multiple leisure centres and swimming pools across England – including several in Somerset – has plunged into administration.
Fusion Lifestyle, which runs leisure centres and swimming pools in Somerset, Devon, Leicestershire, London, Kent, Buckinghamshire, and Newcastle, says it has appointed administrators after a “prolonged period of financial difficulty”.
The operator said it had “collaborated closely with local authorities to explore viable options” and many councils had agreed to keep facilities open during a transition period. Memberships remain active and scheduled activities will continue, according to Fusion.
The charity said “rising operational costs, reduced government funding, and post-pandemic recovery challenges” caused the financial struggles. It said it had “made significant attempts to introduce new funding” that had been unsuccessful.
Somerset Council said it has stepped in to protect leisure services in the east of the county after Fusion Lifestyle went into administration.
Frome Leisure Centre
In a statement on its website, the council said it was “business as usual for gym and swimming facilities in Frome, Wells, Glastonbury and Street with all continuing to operate for the next three months while a new operator is lined up”.
The lido in Shepton Mallet is expected to open in May as usual.
Professional services company S&W was appointed as administrator to run Fusion on a temporary basis from April 1 for three months and Somerset Council has said it aims to ensure a new operator will be in place to take over after this interim period.
The key decision to sign the agreement with S&W was based on the vital need to keep centres running for schools and the public, to ensure the health and wellbeing needs of the communities involved continue to be met.
The facilities run by Fusion include Wells Fitness Centre and Pool, Tor Fitness Centre Glastonbury, Strode Swimming and Fitness Centre, Frome Leisure Centre, Shepton Mallet Lido.
Customers and regular members are being encouraged to keep using their gym or swimming pool and to maintain memberships which will continue into any new contract period with an alternative operator.
The administrator has met with all Fusion staff at facilities to reassure them that operations are continuing as normal and to outline that the aim will be for most staff to be able to transfer to any new operator.
Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Communities, Housing Revenue Account, Culture and Equalities, Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts said: “Getting another operator on board to run these facilities is our number one priority; we know how vital they are to communities and schools.
“It’s disappointing that the centres are in this situation, but we have taken swift action to ensure all services will continue to run as normal until a new operator is on board.
“If you are a member or regular user, please do nothing different, keep enjoying the gym, pool or other facilities – it is business as usual.
“We hope to have a seamless transition from administration into a new contract as soon as possible.”
West Devon Borough Council has told residents it has awarded a contract to Parkwood Leisure to run its leisure services in South Ham after Fusion Lifestyle went into administration.
The gym at Meadowlands Leisure Centre
A spokesperson for the council said: “We have been working with Fusion Lifestyle, the administrators and Parkwood Leisure to protect the future of leisure provision across the area and ensure there are no interruptions to services for the community and leisure centre customers.
“This ensures that the doors will remain open at both sites: Meadowlands (Tavistock) and The Parklands (Okehampton).
“All current memberships and swimming lesson bookings will continue as normal, with no action required from customers.
“We thank residents for their continued support as this new chapter begins.”