Council award new leisure contract and invest significantly into local leisure provision

Melton Borough Councillors voted unanimously to award new leisure contract and invest £1.735million to upgrade buildings and equipment.  

Meeting on the 14th of December, Melton Borough Council awarded the operating contract to SLM (Everyone Active), who will operate the council’s two facilities, Waterfield Leisure Centre and Melton Sports Village for the next 10 years. 

The capital investment will significantly improve and enhance the current facilities and ensure a sustainable and affordable future for leisure, enabling the council to keep both facilities open to the public.   

The investment will include redesigning and upgrading some of the facilities. The toilets, showers, changing facilities, signage and branding, and reception areas will all be updated and modernised across both Waterfield and at Melton Sports Village. In addition, solar panels, LED lighting and pool covers, will be installed, reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions across the sites.  

The redevelopment of Waterfield will include the creation of a brand-new health hub, to provide bespoke support to individuals and small groups, making physical activity and leisure more accessible to all.  All fitness equipment will be consolidated onto this site, creating a new multi-level fitness suite, with various zones to allow a range of workouts. The learner pool will be enhanced with underwater graphics making it more attractive to our younger users whilst the health suite will be completely overhauled with a replacement sauna and steam room. In addition, throughout the centre the latest equipment and technology will also be installed.   

To ensure a financially sustainable leisure offer at Melton Sports Village, a two-court sports hall will remain alongside the introduction of a brand new soft-play facility. The transformation of the site will also include the creation of a brand-new studio for group exercise classes and the development of a multi-purpose room to host a range of well-being and community-based activities.  

Cllr Pip Allnatt, Leader of Melton Borough Council, said: “We already have a strong partnership with SLM (Everyone Active), having worked with them for a number of years. They are leaders in the leisure industry and provided a strong and credible bid for the financially sustainable operation of the facilities and have demonstrated commitment to work with the council over the next decade to ensure we are offering high quality services and facilities to our residents.   

“There will be significant investments into both Waterfield Leisure Centre and Melton Sports Village, and the new contract will build upon our leisure offer for the borough, which we are confident will benefit our communities.  

“The significant upgrades and redevelopment of the sites will not only see exciting new facilities, but also provide more energy efficient solutions to reduce Melton’s carbon footprint.  

“In order to make this vision come to life and create a financially viable leisure offer, some changes to the current provision have been agreed. We understand this will affect some users of the Melton Sports Village and we are already working with these groups to help them find the best way to continue their activities. 

“I am just so relieved that our decision will prevent our centres from closing altogether, deal with current problems, and protect our support for the schools in our Borough to deliver their curriculum. We can do this without adding to the council tax burden and provide a springboard for even better sports facilities in the future. 

“Together with SLM, we are keen to show residents what will be on offer in the future and are planning to host an open day in the new year where we can share concept designs and answer any questions they may have.”  

Simon Fearn, Everyone Active’s Regional Contract Manager, said: “Everyone  

Active has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Melton Borough Council which has gone from strength to strength.   

“We are extremely proud of this partnership and are delighted to have extended it for another 10 years.   

“Serving communities is at the heart of what we do, and we believe the council’s significant investment will help us to continue to provide a fantastic experience for our customers.  

“We look forward to doing that over the next decade as well as maintaining our efforts to engage people in physical activity.”  

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For more information please contact: communications@melton.gov.uk