SEVERAL leisure centres in the New Forest will benefit from a £2.4 million planned investment plan to improve facilities.
Ringwood and New Milton’s leisure centres are among the five in the area to have seen a 33 per cent growth in memberships since the launch of New Forest District Council’s (NFDC) partnership with Freedom Leisure in July 2021.
Following this, and utilising part of a £2.4 million capital investment, Ringwood Health and Leisure Centre will receive an expansion to its soft play area, improvements to the reception and better gym equipment among other facility changes.
New Milton Health and Leisure, meanwhile, will also benefit from brand-new gym equipment.
These improvements are due to be completed by the end of the year.
More than 65,000 people visit the five New Forest centres each month and swimming lesson uptake has seen a growth of 39 per cent, with around 4,500 children taking part in lessons every week.
Councillor Geoffrey Blunden, NFDC portfolio holder for partnering and wellbeing, said: “We embarked in this partnership to help improve the health and wellbeing of residents in the district by increasing participation in our leisure centres and reducing inactivity, so it is encouraging to see such a positive start to our work with Freedom Leisure.
“Their commitment to investing in our leisure centres will mean improved facilities which will offer residents more opportunities locally to engage in an active lifestyle.”
Freedom Leisure took over the day-to-day management of the council’s five leisure centres in July 2021. This followed an extensive review by the council, which selected Freedom Leisure as the preferred operator to manage the council owned leisure centres in the district for the next 11 years.
Matt Wickham, Freedom Leisure COO, said: “We are extremely proud to be working in partnership with New Forest District Council to operate their five leisure centres. This partnership has enabled investment in to all five centres with significant changes and we are excited to welcome new and returning customers to the centres in the coming months.”
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