Reading Borough Council agrees £43m contract with Greenwich Leisure

The 25-year contract to design, build and operate Reading’s leisure service includes building two new swimming pools in Rivermead and Palmer Park.

The plans were backed at last night’s Policy committee, with only Green and Lib Dem councillors opposing the agreement.

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Councillor Graeme Hoskin said: “I’m delighted to announce GLL as our successful leisure partner, who – working closely will the council – will transform leisure facilities in Reading.

“We were fortunate to receive extremely strong and credible bids from very professional and well-respected leisure providers.

“We rigorously weighed up these options and made the final decision on the bid we are confident will deliver the best possible outcome for families and residents who live in Reading.”

Protestors, including Reading Labour members and Save Arthur Hill campaigners, gathered outside the council’s Civic Offices prior to the meeting, calling for the council do a U-turn on outsourcing its leisure services.

Leader of the council Jason Brock announced the identity of the winning bidder after councillors backed the plan last night.

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GLL – which operates under the brand Better – will deliver a 25m, 6-lane community pool at Palmer Park by early 2022 and a 25m 8-lane competition pool at Rivermead by summer 2022.

The contract will officially begin in spring this year.

Paul Shearman, GLL partnership manager for Reading, added: “We have already partnered the council in the delivery of Rivermead Leisure Complex for the past 12 years.

“Now we are ready to move into a whole new level of partnership, working closely with the council to provide a first-class service for residents and families across the town.”

GLL will introduce memberships schemes, allowing access to every single council sports facility across the borough, with a free ‘Reading Resident’s Card’ giving up to 30 per cent discount on activities.

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At the start of the meeting, members of the public raised concern over timetables, prices, the lack of a break point in the contract and GLL’s ethics with a dozen questions aimed at Cllr Hoskin.

Green councillor Rob White hit out at the plans, calling for the council to build the Rivermead pool itself and re-open Arthur Hill.

Ricky Duveen, a Lib Dem councillor, said he is concerned by a 25-year contract without proper break clauses.

He said: “I am sure they will be fantastic leisure centres but I don’t want them to be a dinosaur around our neck because things have changed in 25 years time”.

Cllr Duveen added the lack of a bowls hall in the plans is “disappointing”.

The Rivermead indoor bowling club will not be replaced when the replacement leisure facility is built.

A look at the new leisure centres and changes to existing facilities

Rivermead

The new leisure centre at Rivermead will include a combined teaching and diving pool, a six-court sports hall with 250 spectator seats, a 120-station gym with three studios and soft play.

Palmer Park

At Palmer Park, the existing stadium building will be refurbished, while visitors will also experience a 100-station gym, soft play and party rooms.

The two new pools will be developed to BREEAM Excellent sustainability standards.

Reading’s other two leisure centres will also benefit from improvements.

Meadway Sport Centre will get a new multi-purpose studio and improved gym, while  South Reading Leisure Centre will get a new health and fitness equipment and gym space.