Leisure and recreation services in Powys need a rethink over the coming years to safeguard provision for future generations, Powys County Council has said.
Cabinet Member for a Safer Powys, Councillor Richard Church said:
“We want to lay the foundations for a sustainable service for future generations to help support an active and healthy population in the county.
“Our services are well regarded and have been well supported in the past, but our review has shown that the existing facilities are not fit for purpose and cannot deliver our aspirations for a healthy and active county, without significant investment.
“The council has identified different options that could form the blueprint for the way services are managed in the future.
“We propose taking four options out for public consultation, setting out the costs and seeking the views of service users and communities on a preferred way forward.
“Leisure services are an important part of the council. We run more leisure centres than any other Council in Wales and we must ensure that any future option is affordable, provides equitable access and supports a healthy and active population,” he added.
The four options for consideration are:
Option 1: status quo; continue with current provision (14 centres), with delivery by Freedom Leisure through the existing contract.
Option 2:
– Provision of five core leisure hubs along spine of Powys (Welshpool, Newtown, Llandrindod, Brecon and Ystradgynlais)
– Re-negotiate contract with Freedom Leisure to deliver leisure activities at the 5 centres above from August 2027, plus to explore potential for development of alternative delivery methods targeting health and wellbeing, including outreach and digital options
-Close all centres (apart from the five noted above) unless transferred to school or a sustainable and viable business case is received and approved.
-Negotiation with schools over transfer of dry side facilities where essential to delivery of curriculum and the effective operation of school, where the schools do not have their own sports halls, so the leisure facilities are the only provision for exams and curriculum and extra-curricular activities.
-Negotiations with the relevant schools to be undertaken regarding operation of and community access to the leisure facilities. It may be more financially viable, and preferable for management reasons, for Freedom Leisure (or any other leisure provider) to continue to manage and operate facilities on a school site outside of school hours, in order to generate income and retain leisure expertise.
-Where transfer to a school is not an option, ‘Expressions of Interest’ to be invited for the remaining facilities (wet side / dry side / outdoor facilities) by end of September 2025
-Following assessment of Expressions of Interest received, robust Business Cases invited by end September 2026 for transfer of remaining facilities to alternative management
-Evaluation of Business Cases – successful applications notified by 30th November 2026 with full implementation and transfer by 31st August 2027.
-If any facilities are not transferred to a school, and where no sustainable Business Case is approved, facilities to close on 31st August 2027.
Option 3:
All leisure provision becomes community or commercially led. The Council no longer directly provides any leisure services / facilities but works with and supports others to develop community-led provision which meets local needs, through open engagement.
This may include transfer of existing facilities to community groups or private sector, and/or supporting the local economy to develop local businesses (e.g. yoga instructors, private gyms, use of hotel swimming pools etc.) Consultation / Expression of interest / business case process and timescales as option 2.
Option 4:
– Retain Leisure Centres with swimming pools in the five core hub towns: Welshpool, Newtown, Llandrindod, Brecon and Ystradgynlais
– Seek capital funding for the provision of leisure facilities for Llandrindod, alongside a new secondary school. If funding not available, the existing leisure facility will be retained.
– Retain Machynlleth Leisure Centre and swimming pool but explore options for a new facility adjoining the new school. If funding not available for a new facility, the existing leisure facility will be retained.
– Retain Llanidloes leisure and pool facilities.
– Retain leisure and pool facilities in Knighton.
– Offer to transfer the dry side facilities at Llanfyllin, East Radnor, Builth Wells, Llanfair Caereinion to schools where essential to school operation and engage with Freedom for them to manage their use out of school hours until the end of the contract (2030)
– Explore community transfer of Rhayader Leisure Centre dry side and / or any other dry side centres not transferring to schools), allowing 2 years from the end of consultation.
– Close Builth Wells, East Radnor, Rhayader and Llanfyllin swimming pools by 31st December 2025. Offer the space occupied by any closed pools for other leisure activities, either commercial, managed by Freedom or other public sector (e.g. indoor children’s play area, family centre, health, retail). Engage with communities in how they would wish to see the spaces used.
– Close the dry side facilities at Llanfyllin, Llanfair Caereinion, East Radnor, Rhayader and Builth Wells unless transferred to a school or community, and where no sustainable Business Case is approved by 31st August 2027.
Whatever option is chosen, the Council is also keen to hear from local communities on how their local leisure centre can be used so it provides what the local community want at an affordable price, and where change is necessary how can the community make the best of that change.
The report and options will be reviewed by the council’s Joint Scrutiny Committee on November 14 before being considered by the Cabinet on November 26.
If approved by Cabinet, consultation on the options will take place in 2025.
