Council aim to reopen GL1 Leisure Centre within next few weeks

Gloucester City Council have discussed plans to set aside £260,000 to reopen the GL1 Leisure Centre and Oxstalls Sports Centre.

At a meeting last night (Thursday 19 October), councillors voted in favour of proposals to find an interim provider to run the sites.

It's after previous providers Aspire Sports and Cultural Trust decided not to extend its contract with the local authority and cease trading.

Initially, City Council chiefs felt it would be unlikely the facilities would reopen before September next year after a new long-term leisure provider was appointed.

However, they have now worked on a phased plan to reopen both sites within the next few weeks.

It is understood that the 150 people whose jobs are at risk will also be guaranteed an interview with the new management company.

Another vote at last night's meeting saw councillors decide not to publicly apologise for the handling of the situation at GL1.

Council Leader Richard Cook said it should instead be noted the "hard work" the authority is doing to reopen the facilities by the end of this month.

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