New lease of life for Sheffield leisure centre

A Sheffield leisure centre which was saved from closure by a community group will have its lease extended.
Coun Shaffaq MohammedCoun Shaffaq Mohammed
Coun Shaffaq Mohammed

Stocksbridge Leisure Centre will be granted a new 30 year lease on the same terms and conditions as its current short-term lease.

Residents pulled together to set-up the 4SLC Trust to raise money and redevelop the centre following its closure by Sheffield Council in April 2013.

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More than 3,000 volunteers put in around 75,000 hours work which resulted in a refurbished pool, new boiler and organised activities.

Liberal Democrat Leader Coun Shaffaq Mohammed said the community had done an excellent job of safeguarding the centre’s future.

He said: “When Sheffield International Venues operated the centre it had 142,000 visitors and now it has 150,000. This is a tribute to the hard work of the community.

“The leisure centre is in a very isolated location, it’s about half an hour’s drive or more to the next nearest one at Hillsborough, so this is great news.

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“Hats off to the volunteers, they have shown real community spirit and long may they continue.”

Paul Billington, director of culture and environment, will ask Cabinet to approve the new lease at a meeting this week.

He said in a report: “The trust running the leisure centre is making a great success of the venture and they are continuously striving to ensure the sustainability of the centre.

“The new lease will support the continued provision of leisure facilities in the Stocksbridge area for the benefit of the community.

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“Unless 4SLC continue to use and manage the centre it will need to be demolished. This would result in the loss of a valuable asset used by the local community and involve a cost to ultimately the council.”