EBC and contractor strengthen community ties with 5-year contract extension

Erewash Borough Council has agreed a five-year contract extension with the contractor responsible for running borough leisure centres.

The deal with Parkwood Leisure is described as marking a continued commitment to enriching the community through leisure activities and facilities. 

For the past five years, Parkwood Leisure and its sub-contractor Legacy Leisure have been instrumental in operating the Council's leisure centres, investing over £1.3 million to elevate the local leisure experience and ensure all members have access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities.

The investment ensured the complete refurbishment of the West Park Leisure Centre fitness studio, along with the installation of a bespoke group exercise studio and sky trail. The beloved Rutland Sports Park included the transformational refurb of the fitness studio and changing rooms as well as resurfacing the athletics track and installing a functional training suite.

As well as transforming into premium hubs for physical activity, investment also went towards creating accessible environments for members of the whole family to enjoy. The installation of soft play areas and a cafe at West Park, an Atlantis Splash giant inflatable at Victoria Park and a Giant Olympic Inflatable at Rutland make these the perfect sites for everyone to find something they love.

A statement described the impact of the partnership between Parkwood Leisure and Erewash Borough Council as "palpable", adding that there had been a noticeable increase in community engagement and participation in sports and physical activities. The contract engages with the Access Sport partnership which pilots a game-changing inclusive community sport offer centred around leisure centres.

Enrolments in swimming lessons have surged, surpassing pre-COVID levels, while memberships for fitness and swim facilities have experienced a remarkable resurgence.

Managing Director at Parkwood Leisure, Glen Hall, said: “Our partnership with Erewash Borough Council is founded on a shared vision of promoting community wellbeing and activity. We are excited to continue our partnership with Erewash Borough Council and remain committed to delivering exceptional leisure experiences that enrich the lives of residents across the borough.”

With this renewed partnership, residents can expect an exciting array of new initiatives and enhancements that will further elevate the leisure landscape in Erewash.

Erewash Borough leader James Dawson added: “The borough is rightly proud of its leisure centres – and the council has just announced exciting plans to make them even better. A huge £3million is set to be invested in eco-friendly improvements. This means the council’s continuing partnership with Parkwood Leisure will be vital as work gets under way and we all look towards a greener future.”