Public access to leisure facilities at Catmose Sports Centre will cease at the end of March 2023.
Since April 2022, Rutland County Council have been working hard to find an operator to continue to provide public leisure access to the site when the current contract will SLL ends on 31st March 2023.
Clearly not hard enough.
With the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing energy crisis Rutland County Council have been forced to provide significant financial support to Catmose Sports Centre over the past few years. Unfortunately, the council cannot provide this kind of financial assistance indefinitely.
A key requirement is that any new contract must run the centre at zero cost to both Rutland County Council and Catmose College. Unfortunately, the Council have received no bids meeting this requirement from prospective operators, and as a result public access to the facilities will end on 31st March 2023.
I am not that bothered that Stevenage Leisure is no longer going to receive public money from Rutland County County Council, they have received plenty for little. The swimming pool being the biggest scandal.
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Why has the Council made this decision?
When looking for an operator to run Catmose Sports Centre from 1 April 2023, they were very clear that any future contract must run the centre at zero net cost to both Rutland County Council and Catmose College. The Council’s existing contract with SLL was designed to be nil cost, except for major repairs. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and rising energy prices mean we’ve had to provide Catmose Sports Centre with a lot of unexpected financial support over the past three years. As a Council, we cannot afford this kind of financial assistance indefinitely, with the cost of operating leisure centres expected to increase by 240% this year.
Why can't the Council increase funding for Catmose Sports Centre?
Rutland County Council say All councils in the UK are under huge financial pressure due to current economic conditions, the rate of inflation, energy costs and rising demand for services. Rutland County Council is currently setting its annual budget and has seen the cost of running local services jump by £6.1million since last year. We estimate that we need to save £4.9million over the next four years and must look more closely than ever at what we spend. You can learn more about their current financial position by going to:
Why can't the Council use it's Levelling Up money for Catmose Sports Centre?
Rutland and Melton have been successful in securing just under £23million of national Levelling Up Funding from the UK Government. Under the terms of the Levelling Up programme, they could only apply for money that would be used to support viable projects around transport, regeneration and culture. Bids were submitted in August 2022 and had to be tailored to these three investment themes. The money they will receive can’t then be used for other purposes.
Will activities at the Centre carry on until the end of March 2023?
The centre will be open as normal and activities will continue until 31 March 2023.
I'm currently a member of the centre and I pay by Direct Debit - what will happen to my membership?
Your Direct Debit membership will continue until the 31 March. Any payments taken by SLL after the 1 March 2023 will be pro-rata, based on the number of days the centre will remain open for. SLL will shortly be sending out further information to members via email.
I’m currently a member of the centre. I paid for my annual membership in advance - will I get a refund?
Should your annual payment cover any time after the 31 March 2023, you will receive a pro rata refund from SLL based on the remaining days left of your membership. SLL will shortly be sending out further information to members via email.
I have a party / event booked after the centre is closed, what will happen to my event and deposit?
Unfortunately, as the centre will be closed from 1 April 2023, SLL will no longer be able to honour your event. If you have paid any money towards the event, this will be refunded to you by SLL.
I have a personal training session booked after 31 March 2023, what will happen?
Unfortunately, as the centre will be closed, SLL will not be able to honour any personal training sessions after the 31 March 2023. Should SLL be able to move any remaining sessions prior to the closing date, the team will be in touch to arrange this with you. If this is not an option, then any remaining monies owed will be refunded by SLL.
What will happen to the Sports Centre after 31 March?
The Sports Centre will be transferred back to Catmose College. The College will determine the future use of the facilities.
What is happening to swimming at Catmose Sports Centre?
Following the closure of Catmose Pool due to safety concerns about its roof, Rutland County Council’s Cabinet agreed in November 2021 that it was not cost effective to repair the building. The swimming pool has now been demolished.
What other leisure services are available locally?
There are lots of local sports clubs and other leisure facilities in Rutland, which can be used by residents and members of the public. You can find out more about these through the Council’s Active Rutland service,
or by visiting the Active Together website, which covers Leicestershire and Rutland.
