Free leisure passes ahead of council shake-up plan

Residents in the "Greater Oxford" area will be able to use facilities including Ferry Leisure Centre

Free leisure centre passes are being offered to residents in "Greater Oxford", as Oxford City Council promotes its plans for reorganisation.

The authority said it wanted residents in surrounding villages to "experience Oxford's leisure offer now".

Rival plans for reorganisation have been put forward by different authorities in Oxfordshire - made up of either one, two or three new unitary councils.

A newsletter from the city council points out that currently only Oxford residents can use its "community services offer", which includes free swimming for under 17s and summer holiday activities.

A three-council model, backed by the city council, would create a Greater Oxford authority and incorporate some nearby villages, including Kidlington, Cumnor and Wheatley.

Oxfordshire County Council is supporting proposals for a single unitary for Oxfordshire.

A "Greater Oxford" authority would follow the lines of Oxford's green belt

Five councils - West Berkshire, Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and West Oxfordshire - have backed a plan for two new unitary authorities covering Oxfordshire and West Berkshire.

The proposals were made after the government announced in December 2024 its intention to abolish district councils and introduce large mayoral combined authorities in England.

Oxford City Council said it was offering a free seven-day trial so residents in its proposed Greater Oxford area could "experience" the facilities at three of its leisure centres.

Labour council leader Susan Brown said: "We believe Oxford has the best leisure offer in the region.

"We're proposing a new council for Oxford and its surrounding villages, and we want residents of those villages to experience Oxford's leisure offer now."

Responding to the offer, a spokesperson for South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District councils said their residents were already "spoiled for choice".

The spokesperson added: "They already enjoy a wide range of excellent benefits at 11 easily accessible leisure facilities across the two districts in Berinsfield, Wheatley, Abingdon, Didcot, Thame, Wantage, Wallingford, Henley and Faringdon."

An online survey on Oxford City Council's proposals is open until Tuesday and the authority said it would submit its plans to the government in November.