THE partial re-opening of council-owned leisure centres in East Hampshire went ahead only after a new financial deal with the private operator was agreed.

The discussions delayed the re-opening on Saturday of fitness areas at the Taro Leisure Centre in Petersfield, the brand-new £20m Alton Leisure Centre and Mill Chase Leisure Centre in Bordon.

Swimming pools at the centres are set to open today (August 5), with swimming lessons resuming on August 22.

Owned by East Hampshire District Council, they are run by Sports and Leisure Management (SLM), which has a brand name of ‘Everyone Active.’

SLM runs about 200 other centres for local authorities.

When the government announced on July 5 leisure centres could reopen from the coronavirus lockdown, SLM asked to re-negotiate the terms of its original deal with the district council.

A report to council leader Richard Millard said: “Without an agreed support package (for SLM), the leisure centres would remain closed.

“To ensure SLM survives and continues to provide leisure services for the council, SLM requires a level of financial support to see them through the lockdown, and through the subsequent re-opening period while they re-grow the business alongside likely long-term social distancing restrictions.”

Mr Millard said any drop in council income, or drain on reserves, because of the new deal would be ‘clawed back’ later.

He added the new deal would be ‘cost negative’ to residents, and what was important now was re-opening the centres.

SLM area manager David Love said: “We are really pleased to have reached agreement with the council, and the gym at Mill Chase Leisure Centre and the gym and group exercise studios at Taro Leisure Centre and Alton Sports Centre have re-opened.

“We are taking a phased approach to the reopening so we can manage social distancing within our centres.

“We will communicate to our customers as and when more facilities are to reopen.

“The pandemic has undoubtedly had a significant impact on Everyone Active, as all the centres we manage for local authorities have been closed for more than four months.

“Consequently, we have negotiated with all of our local authority partners to find the best way to reopen them.

“The support we have requested as part of our discussions – including those with East Hampshire District Council – does not go beyond terms detailed in our partnership agreement.”