Gloucester leisure centre to receive £400k to improve pools

It is hoped the money will ensure the "long-term financial stability" of GL1

A leisure centre in Gloucestershire is set to receive £432,500 to improve its swimming pools.

Gloucester City Council will receive the share of a £60m fund to ensure GL1's "long-term financial stability".

The long-standing leisure centre suddenly closed in September after Aspire, the trust that ran it, went into liquidation.

It reopened in January under Freedom Leisure, which runs it on behalf of the city council.

The money will be used to improve energy efficiency to keep running costs down.

'Delighted'

Solar panels will be fitted to the building and variable speed filtration pumps will be installed in the pools.

The Swimming Pool Support Fund has seen £20m provided by Sport England, via the National Lottery, with just over £40m provided by the government.

Ruth Saunders, corporate director at the city council, said the authority was "delighted" GL1 was going to be given "a significant boost".

"This will help to make the building more energy efficient, reducing costs and helping to secure its long-term future for the community in Gloucester," she added.