Re-opening of Gateshead Leisure Centre delayed until 2024
It was due to open on 31st Dec but that's now been pushed back.
The reopening of Gateshead Leisure Centre has been delayed.
A community-led organisation bidding to breathe new life into the boarded-up centre had hoped to see its doors open again at the end of December, following its controversial closure under Gateshead Council budget cuts earlier this year.
But the Gateshead Active group has announced that the reopening will have to be pushed back into 2024.
In a statement issued on Monday, Gateshead Active said it had not been able to “appoint key personnel or enter into essential agreements” that were needed to get the leisure centre back in use as planned on December 31.
The group had previously warned that failing to open by the end of 2023 would mean losing out on some time-dependent funding, however the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands that a short extension has been agreed on that.
With the council yet to formally sign off on a community asset transfer that would allow Gateshead Active to take control of the leisure centre, campaigners have urged the authority to “pull out all the stops” to ensure the plans can succeed.
Layla Barclay, of the Save Leisure Gateshead campaign, told the LDRS that the impact of the Alexandra Road facility’s loss had been even more keenly felt during the recent Go North East bus strike.
She said: “We want the leisure centre to open as soon as possible. The longer this goes on, the more people get used to it not being there.
“People are missing out on swimming lessons, on the gym and other activities there, on the social and community aspects. With the bus strikes recently, that really has compounded things.
“People are stuck in this area at the moment and it has been very difficult to get anywhere else. We are still really feeling the loss of the leisure centre.
“Anything that can be done to get it open faster and get through these final stages would be really welcomed. We encourage the council to pull out all the stops to support Gateshead Active in reopening the leisure centre.”
Gateshead Active, which is separate to Save Leisure Gateshead, told its supporters on Monday that “there are many complexities that relate to the transfer of the building, and are taking time to agree and complete”.
Its statement added: “As such, Gateshead Active have not been able to officially appoint key personnel or enter into essential agreements with the selected marketing agency, construction and other vendors which would allow us to meet the aim of a December 31 opening.
“The new opening date is now expected to be in early 2024. Although we cannot offer an exact date at this time, we will continue to be transparent and keep you updated. A number of very positive steps have been made in recent weeks and Gateshead Active and Gateshead Council remain fully committed to making this community site a success. In short we will still be opening, this is only a postponement.”
A council spokesperson said: “We appreciate that this will be disappointing news to those who were expecting Gateshead Leisure Centre to reopen in December. However, both the council and Gateshead Active need to be confident that all requirements for a successful, sustainable reopening have been met before the transfer can be completed.
“Gateshead Active should be commended for the progress made so far and we’re continuing to work closely with them through a robust and thorough transfer process, in order to give the leisure centre its best chance of success as a community-run facility.”