'No accountability' over Gateshead Leisure Centre closure

Gateshead Leisure Centre and Birtley Swimming Centre were closed earlier this year

Council bosses have been criticised over "failings" that led to the closure of two leisure facilities.

A Gateshead Council scrutiny meeting on Monday questioned whether action could have been taken sooner to avoid problems.

Leisure bosses explained how attempts to make the centres self-sufficient had failed.

But the committee's chair, John Eagle, said the discussion ignored "management failings or political failings".

The Labour councillor said: "I don't see accountability. Unless we have accountability, how can we move forward?"

'Tried everything'

Gateshead Leisure Centre and Birtley Swimming Centre were closed this summer due to poor financial performance.

Andrea Tickner, council service director, said the authority had "tried everything" to make the leisure centres profitable, but admitted there had not been enough focus on the bottom line, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reports.

She said: "Covid made it worse, but let's accept that even going into Covid we were spending £3m on these services when it was meant to be zero subsidy.

"I am not going to blame Covid for this, I don't think that would be fair."

In 2015, the council aimed to make its seven leisure centres self-sufficient by 2020 and invested in new facilities such as a climbing wall and 3G pitches to attract users.

But from 2020/21 to 2022/23 the council still paid £14m for the facilities.

Laser tag plan

Two private organisations are now bidding to take over the running of the centres and suggested a number of ways the facilities could make money.

Gateshead Active has plans to bring the leisure centre's café and climbing wall back into use, alongside a new 24/7 gym with its own separate entrance.

Chairman Robert Waugh said profitable schemes could include installing pool tables, as well as running virtual escape rooms and e-sports sessions.

Long-term ambitions include adding laser tag, mini-golf and ten-pin bowling.

Mr Waugh said: "The centre is huge. We need to make sure that every bit of the centre is an income stream."