University Academy Long Sutton says public opening hours for The Peele Leisure Centre will be changing

People will still be able to use a town leisure centre but opening hours will be changing says the site owner.

University Academy Long Sutton (UALS) has been leasing The Peele Leisure Centre to South Holland District Council for many years but this arrangement was stopped in December after concerns were raised by Ofsted.

This had prompted fears that Long Sutton and Sutton Bridge residents would lose access to the gym and sports halls at The Peele - which is the only public-owned facility in that part of the county.

But leaders of The University of Lincoln Academy Trust, which UALS is part of, say the public will be able to use the centre after school hours in 2025 and that a new management company has been brought in.

Steve Baragwanath, the chief executive, said work is due to start shortly on a major building project at the school - which was one of 61 schools to be selected to be part of the previous Government’s flagship School Rebuilding Programme.

He said: “The leisure centre has been incorporated into the plans for the new buildings and will become the only sports hall that is available for pupils during the school day, as the other sports hall currently available is to be demolished.

“This means that the continued use of the leisure centre during the day by members of the public will not be possible. The demands of modern safeguarding processes for pupils, which were not in place when the dual use of the leisure centre was first started, mean that it is now not possible to safeguard pupils effectively and retain public access to the facility during school hours.

“However, the trust and the district council are keen to retain community use of the facility. In order to further this aim, they have worked together to bring on board a new sports and leisure provider to continue the community access at the leisure centre.”

Mr Baragwanath says that the new provider, 3rd Leisure, has been appointed to take over from Parkwood Leisure, which is currently running the site under the district council contract.

He went on to say: “Initially, over Christmas and into the first quarter of the New Year, opening hours and access will not change. After this period, it is envisaged that opening to the public will be outside of school hours during term time, but remain unrestricted at weekends and school holidays. The trust has committed to ensuring that the Long Sutton Hockey Club continues to benefit from the access to facilities it currently enjoys.

“3d Leisure will be taking over the running of the facility in early December and communicating with all existing members about their memberships. They have already met with staff at the leisure centre.

“I would like to thank SHDC, Parkwood Leisure, 3d Leisure and the trustees for their work and support in enabling us to arrive at this position, and enabling us to have this opportunity to secure continued community use of the trust's sports facilities.”

The Peele Leisure Centre has been hosting a number of fitness classes within the dance studio and sports hall plus there is also a gym.

The all-weather pitches are also used by local hockey players.

Earlier this year, plans were lodged to demolish and replace the existing school building as part of a range of improvements including games areas and improving access to the site.