All the leisure centres in North Somerset (Weston, Clevedon, Portishead, Churchill, and Backwell) are owned by the Council but run by third parties. The pandemic and subsequent closure created a huge financial problem in response to which a multi million pound support package was announced. 

Despite this package of support extra 'savings' were looked for and our local leisure centre - old and worn out - was a prime candidate. My view remains that here in the north of the district we need our own swimming pool. Anyone who has visited the centre recently would surely agree that a new swimming pool with other leisure facilities (perhaps combing with Scotch Horn in Nailsea?) has to be the way forward in the longer term. Indeed this is what we are stating to plan for. 

To bridge the gap between now and a new facility being built we need to keep Backwell Leisure Centre open. In order to do this, I fought for and achieved a promise to temporarily close the centre so that essential work could be done to extend the leisure centres life. This program of work, costing in excess of £500,000, is expected to repair the roof, upgrade the boilers, and improve the changing rooms. 

Work will start shortly (if it hasn't already) and I hope that the pool and other facilities will open to public again shortly after Easter this year.