CONTROVERSIAL plans to privatise the management of leisure centres across the New Forest have taken a major step forward. The scheme has received the backing of the district council s ruling cabinet and is almost certain to be approved at a meeting later this week. Welden Leisure, trading as Freedom Leisure, wants to runs the centres at Applemore, Lymington, New Milton, Ringwood and Totton. If the scheme goes ahead it will run the facilities for at least 11 years. Civic chiefs say the council save up to £8m, which would be spent on improving the centres. The proposal was supported a meeting of the leisure committee earlier this month.
1/1 CIVIC chiefs planning to privatise the management of leisure centres in the New Forest have named the leading contender. Freedom Leisure, a not-for-profit trust, could end up running the five centres at Applemore, Lymington, New Milton, Ringwood and Totton. The Tory-run district council has announced that Freedom Leisure is the preferred bidder. Launched in 2002 the organisation runs 101 leisure facilities across the country for clients including schools, local authorities and academies. Cllr Mark Steele, cabinet member for health, said: Freedom Leisure are a trust where all surpluses are reinvested in support of shared objectives with their partners. Their approach to running community facilities really impressed us and they have demonstrated their track record in achieving what we would wish from a leisure service for the New Forest.”