Leisure centre to get £4m upgrade after costs soar

Running costs have risen significantly at the Meres

More than £4m will be spent on improving a popular leisure centre in Grantham.

South Kesteven District Council has secured government funding to install an energy-efficient, low-carbon heating system at the Meres.

Councillor Paul Stokes, the cabinet member for culture and leisure, said running costs had risen significantly since 2021 and the existing gas boilers were "old and inefficient".

The investment would help to secure the "ongoing sustainability" of the centre, he added.

The Meres has four swimming pools, a gym and sports halls. Work on the upgrade is expected to take two years.

It is hoped that the new heating system will cut carbon emissions by more than 550 tonnes a year – around 8% of the council's total.

It will be paid for with a grant of £3,587,500 from the government's Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, along with £492,500 from the council's own budget.

Swimming pools have faced financial pressure from rising energy costs in recent years. In 2022, temperatures in the leisure pool and main pool at the Meres were reduced by 1C in order to cut bills.

Solar panels will be installed to support the new heating system, after the council secured a separate grant of £445,725 from the government's Swimming Pool Support Fund.

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