Strode Leisure Centre looking to future

A Clevedon leisure centre has been praised for the progress it has made in upgrading its facilities over the past three months.

Strode Leisure Centre in Strode Road has suffered a number of setbacks following a £300,000 refurbishment last year, including smelly drains, cracked tiles and broken showers.

However the contractor, John Perkins, has carried out a number of repairs to correct the issues and the centre is now looking to the future with a new management contract up for tender in 2017.

At a meeting of Clevedon Town Council’s events and amenities committee last week, Russ Currie, North Somerset Council’s leisure manager, said: “We are looking at ways of generating more income at Strode in the future.

“We are talking about improving the facilities and attracting more people to use extra facilities.”

A user group will also now meet to discuss the changes and whether the facilities are now in an appropriate condition.

Russ labelled feedback from the users as the ‘lifeblood’ of leisure centres while Chris Blades, Clevedon town councillor, says the time is now right for users to voice their opinions.

Cllr Blades said: “There has been progress in the past three months but it was shambolic before.

“It seemed pointless having a user meeting in the middle of all the chaos but things are moving on and with a new contract looming in 2017, now is the best time.”

A spokesman for North Somerset Council told the Times: “We are carrying out a review at the moment to look at procurement options that will deliver the best value for money on the management of this building.”