Statement from Cllr Catherine Braun, Leader of Stroud District Council regarding Stratford Park Leisure Centre

Most of you will be aware that on Friday 1 November Stroud District Council will take over the management of Stratford Park Leisure Centre. This is a major step forward as we establish our Active Lifestyles Stroud District leisure service. We will be aligning the operation and branding of both our leisure centres in Dursley and in Stroud, bringing onboard new staff and rolling new activities and programmes.

To get us to this point and taking us forward up to and beyond the transfer has involved an incredibly amount of hard work from the officer team. Colleagues from across the council in Community Services, IT, HR Environmental Health and Property, amongst others, have been pulling together for many months to get us to the great position we are now. There is still a great deal to do but we are looking forward to this new era, providing high quality services for our communities. 

I would like to say thank you to all the staff at Everyone Active. They have been running the centre in Stratford Park for thirteen years and during that time have supported thousands of people in their health and fitness journey. I know I speak on behalf of all users and members when I say thank you to them for their commitment.

Following the transfer, Stratford Park Leisure Centre will be closed for a week. The centre will close at 7pm on Thursday 31 October and reopen at 8am on Saturday 9 November, as Active Lifestyles Stroud. This closure will allow for the installation of a new café, introduction of new IT and customer contact systems, and redecoration. It will also allow the team at the centre to get to know Stroud District Council and begin to meet their new colleagues.

During this time, we will work with our new colleagues to look at all aspects of the centre’s work and its programmes. This will continue over the coming months as we talk to and work with the current users of the Centre, as well as with individuals and communities from across the district. This will help us look forward and plan the best provision. We want to build on the successful work of our current contractors, Everyone Active. The feedback we get from our communities and all key stakeholders will then inform the next steps in our vision for an active and healthy district. As councillors, and representatives of our communities, we can all help to make sure that the voices of our residents are heard loud and clear.

This week I know many of my fellow councillors have received communications from local people regarding the health suite at the leisure centre. I would like to take this opportunity to make the position clear. The health suite will obviously not be in use during the week’s closure, but it will reopen on 9 November. The original plan was for the health suite, along with other parts of the building which may need more work or were not so well used, to remain closed beyond 9 November. Informed by feedback from users, we have taken the decision to continue its operation. Thank you to everyone who’s been in touch to express how important this health suite is to them. 

You may also be aware that earlier this week there was a mechanical breakdown in the steam room, which will be repaired as quickly as possible over the next week. The sauna is unaffected.

Once again thank you to all those who have been involved in the work so far and let’s look forward to taking this important and exciting next step together.