Council report reveals Yarborough and Birchwood Leisure Centres in Lincoln may not reopen until July

It will take at least 12 weeks for Lincoln’s closed leisure centres to reopen, a council report says.

However, there is hope that some limited facilities could be reopened early for competitive sports teams.

Leaders are set to greenlight the search for a new short-term provider next week, who would take over for two years.

Active Nation, which ran the Yarborough and Birchwood Leisure Centres on behalf of the council, collapsed last week under pressure from higher energy bills and the cost of living crisis.

The timeline to find a new operator would put the approximate reopening on the facilities around July.

A report published ahead of next week’s meeting says: “The authority has already been approached by a number of national operators of leisure centres, many with numerous facilities around the country.

“Indicative timelines mapped out by officers indicate that it will take approximately 12 weeks to appoint a preferred provider and re-open the centres.

“It is noted that 12 weeks is a long time for those engaged in competitive sport. Officers are therefore exploring options that could bring some limited facilities back sooner (prior to the new provider taking over.)

“Officers are liaising with partners in the city to see if facilities can be made available sooner for clubs who have competitions to deliver or who have members in training or who provide vital diversionary services to young people in the city.”

More details are expected on this during the meeting.

Several sports clubs, including Leadenham Hockey Club, have contacted the Local Democracy Reporting Service about their struggle to find new facilities in the wake of the closures.

The report also reveals that Active Nation initially accepted the £480,000 support package in January.

However, it would have included a break clause, allowing the council to end the contract with 12 months’ notice.

A total of £20,000 of council money was transferred to the charity, however trustees reportedly “developed reservations about the 12-month termination clause”.

They formally declined the offer in February, and decided to wind the charity up in April.

The emergency meeting of council leaders will take place on Tuesday, April 15.

Under the preferred option, the council would use the next two years “to pause and reflect on the future of leisure provision”, rather than committing to a long-term operator.