University Academy Long Sutton ends lease with South Holland District Council for Peele Leisure Centre

Use of a leisure centre will be changing after a school has ended its contract.

University Academy Long Sutton (UALS) has been leasing The Peele Leisure Centre to South Holland District Council for many years but it will be terminating this arrangement in December following an Ofsted report.

The leisure centre - which is the only public facility in that part of the county - is on the school grounds and has been highlighted as a safety concern by inspectors.

UALS is due to be undergoing a major rebuilding project after it was one of 61 schools to be selected to be part of the previous Government’s flagship School Rebuilding Programme.

Coun Gary Taylor, portfolio holder for community development, says there will be some provision for residents to use the centre going forward - but it is not clear what that will be.

He said: “Ofsted’s recent inspection and report at UALS made clear that the arrangement for the public use of the Peele Leisure Centre during the school day was no longer compatible with modern requirements for the safeguarding of pupils, which, coupled with it becoming the only internal sports space when the academy is rebuilt, gave them no choice but to end the existing agreement for the operation of the centre.

“Whilst we are obviously disappointed by their need to end the long-standing contract from Friday 6 December, we understand and accept the requirement to respond to Ofsted feedback and to prioritise the safeguarding of their students when making this difficult decision, and have worked closely with them to find a solution to allow the centre to remain open.

“As such, we are delighted that a level of provision will still be available to residents at the Peele Leisure Centre, and know how important a lifeline it is to its users and the staff who work there.

“We will continue to work with UALS and the new operators to ensure the smoothest possible handover and as little service disruption as possible over the coming months.”

The Peele Leisure Centre is the only public owned gym in the Long Sutton and Sutton Bridge areas with people either having to travel to Spalding or nearby Wisbech. There is also a private gym in Holbeach.

The site has been hosting a number of fitness classes within the dance studio and sports hall plus there is also a gym.

The all weather pitches are also used by local hockey players.

Earlier this year, plans were lodged to demolish and replace the existing school building as part of a range of improvements including games areas and improving access to the site.

We have approached the school for a response.

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