Serious concerns over city leisure centre’s spiralling energy bills

Serious concerns have been raised over the financial challenges the provider of Gloucester’s GL1 Leisure Centre and Oxstalls Sports Park is having due to spiralling utility bills.

Aspire Sports and Cultural Trust, which was established in 2008 to provide sport, leisure and cultural services in the city, is in need of more funding according to opposition councillors at Gloucester City Council.

Trust chiefs say the Government has not prioritised community leisure and sports facilities for energy cost relief in the same way that it has done for libraries and galleries.

And Labour group leader Terry Pullen (L, Moreland) told the council’s budget setting meeting on February 23 that he was very worried about the situation.

“In terms of Aspire, our excellent sports and leisure facility which runs GL1 and Oxstalls. We understand they have been given £360,000,” he said.

“I’ve asked several times whether that is sufficient, enough to support them and keep them able to deliver services. I’m told it isn’t. I’m told it does not include the spiralling costs of utilities to keep Aspire going.

“We are very worried about the additional cost to Aspire. If extra funding is not provided to Aspire we are very concerned about their ability to deliver the contract going forward.”

Council leader Richard Cook (C, Kingsway) asked why Cllr Pullen did not bring budget amendments to the meeting concerning Aspire.

He said: “Cllr Pullen talked about Aspire. I question, if he’s so concerned about those issues, why didn’t he bring budget amendments to this meeting about Aspire and about sorting it out.”

Aspire Sports and Cultural Trust chief executive Jacquie Douglas said the Government has not prioritised community leisure and sports facilities for energy cost relief like they did for libraries and galleries.

She explained the trust will continue to work with our trade and partner organisations to secure the much-needed funding that is required to cover escalating utility costs.

“Aspire Sports and Cultural Trust is a Charitable organisation that runs the GL1 and Oxstalls Sports Park facilities owned by Gloucester City Council.

The charity prides itself in providing accessible physical activity, sporting and health and wellbeing services to the residents of Gloucester and visitors to the City.

“Nationally, Charities like ourselves, trade organisations, sporting National Governing Bodies and local government organisations, continue to lobby Central Government to secure financial support to tackle increasing and unaffordable utility costs.

“Government has not prioritised community leisure and sports facilities for energy cost relief in the same way that it has done for libraries and galleries and therefore we will continue to work with our trade and partner organisations to secure the much-needed funding that is required to cover escalating utility costs.”

By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter

Gloucester News Centre – http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk