Does LED spell the end of the road for Totnes Pavilions?

LED leisure, a Devon based company operating community sports facilities will soon be opening a new gym in studio space on the Dartington Estate. Known as The Space Health and Fitness, it will have state of the art equipment and offer a wide variety of exercise classes and training programmes.

The launch of this new facility in January will be yet another blow to the struggling and much criticised Totnes Pavilions Leisure Centre. For many years local people have complained about poor facilities and cleanliness. A recent series of posts on Facebook has made it clear that many people, frustrated by poor standards and lack of promised improvements have stopped using the Totnes Centre.

The pandemic really knocked the leisure industry for six!

Moving to the Private Sector

Totnes residents have long been dismayed that leisure provision in Totnes is much worse than in other towns in the South Hams. In recent years Totnes Leisure Centre has lost customers to the nearby privately run Fitness Factory.
Totnes Leisure Centre is operated by Fusion Lifestyle, a national leisure services company that is itself struggling. In the last year Fusion Lifestyle has lost contracts with Bedford Council, Haringey Council and Enfield Council. Issues such as poor service quality, inadequate maintenance and pool closures have been cited as reasons for contract terminations.

Fusion Lifestyle secured a £13 million refinancing loan from National Westminster Bank in 2003, which is repayable in April 2025. Currently Fusion’s liabilities significantly exceed its assets and income. None of this bodes well for the long term future of Totnes Leisure Centre.

All four leisure centres in the South Hams are operated by Fusion Leisure. In Ivybridge, Kingsbridge and Dartmouth, the Council has a direct contract with Fusion to provide services and retains responsibility for ensuring compliance.

Added complication

The situation in Totnes is more complicated. Totnes swimming pool was opened in 1974 following a long and successful campaign by local residents and community bodies. It was run by Totnes and District Swimming Pool Association, which became known as Tadpool. South Hams Council became involved in 1988 when they built the sports hall, dance hall and changing facilities. Tadpool continued to be involved running the swimming pool and building the gym.

There seems to have been an amicable arrangement between South Hams and Tadpool. With South Hams running the reception and paying the staff, while Tadpool continued to run the pool and the gym.

Things got more complicated in 2006 when South Hams decided to outsource its leisure facilities to Tone Leisure, an independent company. This was the start of a difficult period of 10 years with two organisations trying to run one building. Some of today’s problems date back to that time. In 2017 South Hams decided to relet the contract for all services to Fusion Lifestyle. Tadpool no longer had direct responsibility for the services but had a management agreement with Fusion Leisure. It is inevitably challenging for a small voluntary organisation to exert influence over a national company.

Maintaining Standards

Tadpool tried hard to work with Fusion. Through their contacts in the community they were able to provide feedback and encourage Fusion to maintain standards, but without any real authority. It had long been recognised that the centre was in need of improvement. Minor works were delayed pending an ambitious redevelopment plan due for implementation in 2020. Then came Covid and that was all shelved. Councillor John Birch said “The pandemic really knocked the leisure industry for six!” referring to the ongoing staff costs while centres had to be closed. Complaints about the state of the centre continued to amass. A revised development plan was agreed between Fusion and Tadpool. South Hams Council offered a favourable loan of £1.5 million to Fusion to implement the plan. In May this year the board of Fusion refused to accept the loan and the plan is back on the shelf.

The Tadpool committee and volunteers are undiminished in their efforts to seek improvements at the centre. They have now agreed a two year asset improvement plan with Fusion aimed at improving standards and facilities. The Chair has said they feel hopeful and positive about the improvements, but still need the community to support the centre.

Some customers of the centre remain unconvinced.

Last week a petition was set up on Change.org  calling on South Hams District Council to review Fusion’s contract and explore alternative providers better equipped to manage the centre and deliver improvements. It asks for immediate action to address urgent issues such as professional cleaning services and safety inspections. At time of publishing the petition is very close to 500 signatures.

Whether you share Tadpool’s optimism or believe there needs to be a more radical approach to the problems. There is undeniably a risk to the future of the leisure centre. It is a much needed resource in Totnes. The opening of a new private gym in Dartington should not be the end of the road. It could be a spur to a new community initiative to develop the centre for the benefit of the whole community.

Whether studio and performance space on the Dartington Estate should be given over to running a gym alongside a virtual golf course is the other side of the coin.