A FUTURE has been secured for Sturminster Newton’s leisure centre.

The Honeymead Lane facility will be managed by the Jurassic Leisure Trust from April 1 after a long- term funding commitment from North Dorset District Council comes to an end.

Town, district, and county councils have pumped money into the centre in a bid to get the new management structure off to a flying start.

“Its start-up money, in a sense. We want to give the trust the best possible chance of success,” said Cllr Victor Fox, the chairman of Sturminster Newton Town Council, which has committed £22,500 in the trust.

“They have a proven track record in Dorchester and the aim here is to break even within three years,” he added.

Sturminster Newton High School will continue to use the centre’s facilities, and will have exclusive access to the sports hall during the school day.

Dorset County Council, the authority responsible for the school, will soon take over the lease of the building from the district, and recently committed £80,000 to the centre.

Sturminster people will enjoy increased access to the centre’s facilities, which includes fitness suites, an exercise studio and a sports hall, under the new arrangements.

“The trust will open the gym all day. At the moment, it is closed between 10am and 4pm, so there will be increased access for the public,” said Nathan Fazakerley, the district council’s leisure manager. Gym facilities from the threatened leisure centre at Shaftesbury could soon replace those at Sturminster Newton.