Letter: Points to Consider for Freedom Leisure’s New Contract

Published on: 14 Oct, 2024
Updated on: 14 Oct, 2024

From John Redpath

former R4GV borough councillor

In response to: We Need a Can-do Attitude to Transform the Lido

Guildford Borough Council may already be in the process of negotiating a new contract for its leisure facilities at Spectrum Leisure Centre, Ash Manor Sports Centre and Guildford Lido as the current contract runs out in November next year.

I hope that a condition of any new contract will be to allow flexible use of the lido for more than just swimming which will make it more of a community facility. Also it would be an improvement to extend the season over which it is open from, what I believe is, the current contractual, and all too short, 20 weeks.

Looking at the numbers for Ash Manor from the Freedom Leisure annual report (2021/22) I note that Ash Manor had and attendance of 34,959 yet lost £148,377. Whilst the lido had an attendance of 116,334 and lost £163,865. With so few attending Ash Manor for a far bigger loss surely that must be threatened by the cutbacks also?

The other striking figure from the report is the membership figures with Spectrum having 1,901 members, Ash Manor 520, but the Lido only has 52! Guildford Lido really needs to work on those membership figures if its going to convince anyone that it’s well loved.

Finally, is it GBC which is losing £160,000 or Freedom Leisure the current operators? Is it their bottom line that’s been hit or the council’s?

Responses to Letter: Points to Consider for Freedom Leisure’s New Contract

John Ferns Reply

October 14, 2024 at 7:26 pm

This is an useful summary of the operating year through April 2022, particularly in relation to GBC support. While the losses were notable, they could be expected due to Covid restrictions.

By April 2023, however, there was a return to profitability: Ash reported a £10k profit, and the main Spectrum Guildford activities generated £74k. The Lido’s attributable loss was reduced to £34k—clear improvements across the board.
https://democracy.guildford.gov.uk/documents/s31622/Item%2007%20-%20Appendix%201%20GBC%20Annual%20Report%20Presentation%2022-23%20Final.pdf

Focusing on Ash Manor may be somewhat unfair, without acknowledging that it serves as both a sports facility and a sports centre for a secondary school.

This dual function limits its ability to attract visitors from outside the local area, especially as it faces competition from municipal operators in nearby towns such as Aldershot, Farnborough, and Farnham, not forgetting the extensive Army facilities in Aldershot.

Let’s see how matters have progressed since April 2023. The new report should be in the process of being printed.
Alan Judge Reply

October 15, 2024 at 9:28 am

52 members? Surely that’s because they are currently out of season.
If not, there’s a real problem there.
- Mike Truman Reply
  
  October 19, 2024 at 9:45 pm
  
  I think the “membership” probably relates only to the gym that is also on the Lido site:
  https://www.freedom-leisure.co.uk/centres/guildford-lido/memberships/
  
  The nearest thing to a swimming “membership” is probably buying a season ticket.