New Forest District Council’s leisure centre operator Freedom Leisure proposes fees hike at New Milton, Lymington, Applemore, Ringwood and Totton sites

FEES at five district council-owned leisure centres must be hiked to avoid cutbacks in services, staffing or opening hours, it has been claimed.

Freedom Leisure, which manages the facilities on behalf of New Forest District Council in New Milton, Lymington, Applemore, Ringwood and Totton, wants to increase a raft of charges at the sites.

The firm also suggested it could pull out of its contract with NFDC if the increases are not approved.

The changes include increasing the cost of a standard public swim from £7 to £7.50 – a rise of over 7% – while a concessionary junior will pay £3.25, up from £3 – an increase of more than 8%.

The cost of a public swim for three to seven-year-olds will remain at £2.

A report to members of NFDC’s cabinet, which will meet next Wednesday, states: “Due to cost pressures particularly associated with pay and energy, an increase in fees greater than the Consumer Price Index has been proposed by Freedom Leisure.

“It is the responsibility of Freedom Leisure as the council’s operator to respond to external factors and set a pricing strategy that seeks to maximise their income, whilst continuing to support long-standing concessions previously offered by the council.”

It adds: “This price increase will have a neutral impact on the council’s financial position, but by supporting appropriate price increases to maintain a healthy viable business model, its medium-term financial interests are protected.”

Other fees which could increase from February 2025 include fitness memberships, with a single peak direct debit rising 3.6% from £56 to £58. Worst hit would be students, whose membership would jump from £35 to £38.50 – a 10% rise.

Gym users would see their monthly memberships at Totton and Ringwood increase from £45 to £47 – up 4.4.% – while the remaining centre users would pay £48 – up 6.7%.

The report adds: “The council could choose to not to approve the proposed fee increases, which would lead to a funding shortfall within the Freedom Leisure budget, necessitating the need to potentially cut back services, staffing levels or opening hours.

“In the worst-case scenario – albeit highly unlikely at this time – Freedom Leisure may need to withdraw from the contract altogether, effectively handing back leisure operations to the council with all the financial and operational issues associated with it, including the additional costs and challenges currently being faced by the operator.”

As reported in the A&T, in 2022 the council stumped up an extra £270,000 as the firm struggled to keep afloat due to a slower-than-anticipated post-Covid recovery, as well as spiralling energy bills and the cost-of-living crisis. This was in addition to a management fee of £1.23m.

Last year it was handed £348,000 in council cash due to an “extraordinary” increase in utility costs which affected leisure centres nationally.