Consultation on Future Options for Uckfield Leisure Centre

Overview

This consultation seeks views regarding the future of Uckfield Leisure Centre (“the Leisure Centre”) from local residents, staff, pupils and parents/carers at Uckfield Community College ("the College”); and other stakeholders. 

The Leisure Centre offers the following dryside community facilities: (i) fitness suite; (ii) studio; (iii) two squash courts; (iv) café; (v) creche and (vi) sports hall

The Leisure Centre is adjacent to the main College buildings. 

It offers the following dryside College curriculum facilities: (i) fitness suite; (ii) studio; (iii) two squash courts and (iv) sports hall.

The Leisure Centre offers wetside community facilities including a leisure swimming pool, sauna, steam room, flume and separate splash pool.

The Leisure Centre does provide a café facility.

Local primary schools have access to the Leisure Centre’s swimming pool for Key Stage 1 and 2 swimming lessons. Other swimming facilities are available in key locations in East Sussex, e.g., Hailsham and Crowborough, which are provided by Wealden District Council. Uckfield College does not require wetside facilities for curriculum use, but it does currently make use of the pool.

East Sussex County Council (“the County Council”) currently leases the Leisure Centre to Wealden District Council.  Wealden District Council has leased the Leisure Centre from the County Council from 2002. Both East Sussex County Council and Wealden jointly agreed in June 2022, to extend the lease for 12 months. The lease will end in July 2023.  The Leisure Centre is currently managed by a leisure services provider, Freedom Leisure Limited, under a contract between Wealden District Council and Freedom Leisure Limited.  Wealden District Council has decided not to extend further those current arrangements and now the County Council is considering the Leisure Centre’s future.

The County Council intends that the Leisure Centre’s dryside facilities will continue to be used by the College, for curriculum use.  However, it is considering different options regarding: (a) ongoing community access to the Leisure Centre’s dryside facilities; and (b) the future of the Leisure Centre’s wetside facilities. 

There is an all-weather 3G pitch adjacent to the Leisure Centre, which is used both by the College and by the community.  This consultation does not concern the future of the all-weather 3G pitch, which will continue to operate as normal for curriculum and community use.  

Respondents are invited to provide their views regarding the future of both wetside and community dryside facilities at the Leisure Centre.

On 28 February 2023, the East Sussex County Council’s Lead Member for Resources and Climate Change approved the public consultation process in respect of the Uckfield Leisure Centre.

The link to the Lead Member report is listed below.

Lead Member Report 28 February 2023