Leisure centre to re-open under new operator

Rye Leisure Centre is now managed by Rye Recreation & Wellbeing

A popular community leisure facility is set to re-open under a new operator, which says it has "exciting plans" for the centre.

Rye Sports Centre, formerly managed by Freedom Leisure, is due to open on Tuesday under new operators Rye Recreation & Wellbeing (RRW).

Chairperson Barry Nealon said the group had renamed the facility Rye Leisure Centre.

He said the group had given the centre a new name because "we want to include more sporting activities for the community" such as padel tennis and Pilates.

RRW will manage the centre on behalf of Rye Town Council under a 20-year lease, which it signed on Monday, granted by East Sussex County Council.

Mr Nealon said: "This is one of the town's biggest assets. We are still at the planning stages for other exciting offers at the leisure centre."

He said the charity had received a £140,000 grant from Sports England which went towards installing solar panels on the building's roof.

"This will help save a lot of energy costs," Mr Nealon added.

"We have received a £500,000 Levelling Up Grant from the government, which goes towards repairing facilities including the technical infrastructure that keeps the swimming pool running, changing rooms and roof repairs as there was a leak."

Three years ago, the former operator of the leisure centre temporarily closed its swimming pool over rising energy costs.