Five Somerset leisure centres and pools are set to get a new operator from early July after Fusion Lifestyle went into administration.

Somerset Council has put in £370,000 of interim funding to keep the sites open for three months while a new provider is found.

The affected sites are Frome Leisure Centre, Shepton Mallet Lido, Strode Swimming Pool and Fitness Centre in Street, Tor Sports and Leisure Centre in Glastonbury, and Wells Leisure Centre.

But council officers have warned that major "new and exciting" improvements are unlikely under the first contract, which is expected to run for two years.

Fusion Lifestyle, a registered charity, had operated the five sites under a 50-year lease awarded by the former Mendip District Council in 2015.

The organisation went into administration on Wednesday, 1 April, after facing "significant financial difficulties" following the coronavirus pandemic.

A discussion on the contract took place at Somerset Council's communities scrutiny committee in Taunton on Thursday, 30 April.

Stuart Winslow, the council's culture and leisure manager, said the immediate focus was "short-term stabilisation" over two years.

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He said that would give the council time to carry out a wider leisure review, assess the facilities and look at future investment before a longer-term procurement process.

Two operators are being considered: Everyone Active and Freedom Leisure.

Everyone Active already runs facilities in the former Somerset West and Taunton area, including Taunton Pool and Wellington Sports Centre.

Freedom Leisure runs sites in the former Sedgemoor and South Somerset areas, including 1610 gyms in Bridgwater and Chard.

Mr Winslow said both operators had shown interest.

He said the former Fusion sites remained well used, including by children taking swimming lessons, making the contract attractive to a new provider.

Councillor Edric Hobbs, Liberal Democrat member for Mendip Hills, raised concerns about Shepton Mallet Lido.

He said: "I live opposite Shepton Mallet Lido and I'm well aware it's the only leisure facility we have. People were very jittery that we would lose our seasonal swimming pool."

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He asked whether short-term investment would be made before a longer contract is secured.

Dan Webb, the council's head of service for culture and leisure, said condition surveys would help the council understand what work is needed.

He said the council would work with the new operator to ensure "the essentials are in place".

But he added: "We can't commit to anything new and exciting in terms of investment."

Councillor Adam Boyden, Liberal Democrat member for Frome North, said urgent improvements were needed at Frome Leisure Centre.

Councillor Marcus Kravis, Liberal Democrat member for Dunster, questioned whether leisure services should eventually be brought back in-house.

The council expects bids to be evaluated by the end of May.

The new contract is due to be awarded in early June, with the winning operator taking control in the first week of July.

Original reporting: Daniel Mumby/LDRS

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