Valley Leisure, the highly-rated charitable trust that runs Andover Leisure Centre and Charlton Lakeside, has won the contract to operate yet another Test Valley Borough Council sport centre.
The biggest sports and leisure charity in the borough has added Romsey Sports Centre to its portfolio, and now runs five separate fitness and activity centres. In the south of Test Valley, it also operates the Rapids in Romsey and Knightwood Leisure Centre in Valley Park.
Reviews by independent leisure centre assessors, supported by Sport England, have ranked Valley Leisure sites as some of the best run in the whole country.
Kevin Paterson, chief executive at Valley Leisure, said: “We have a lot of experience in running sports and leisure facilities in the area, which means we not only understand the services but the community too.”
“We’re delighted that the borough council have given us this chance to create even more opportunities for local people.”
Kevin added: “We’re all about getting more people more active and by adding Romsey Sports Centre to our portfolio, we’ll offer both new facilities to our existing members and hope to extend activities for new clients too.”
Councillor Tony Ward, portfolio holder for community and leisure at Test Valley Borough Council, said: “I am delighted that the market testing exercise we conducted earlier in the year will result in a better offering to users of Romsey Sports Centre.”
“The transfer of the management of the sports centre to Valley Leisure will enable an increase in opening hours on evenings, weekends and bank holidays.”
“Not only did the Valley Leisure tender provide the best value for money but also included a full community engagement and sports development plan to support new and existing groups to make best use of the centre.”
Romsey Sports Centre offers tennis, squash, table tennis, a children’s playground and skateboard park and a newly refurbished 18-hole adventure golf course.
Existing Valley Leisure inclusive members, anywhere in the borough, will be able to use the facilities as part of their membership.
