Beau Sejour Centre not 'financially sustainable'

A leisure centre is in a "persistent operating deficit" and a "solution has not been defined", a sustainability report has said.

The report said Beau Sejour had "poor energy efficiency, accessibility gaps and significant lifecycle and mechanical and electrical replacement pressures".

Further highlighted was a "patch and mend" strategy which could become a "programme of managed decline" and there was evidence for investment.

Paul Montague, President of the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture, admitted the centre was "not sustainable" financially and said it was "perfectly possible that private organisations" could become become investors, but would not comment further on such funding.

The report highlighted the annual subsidy for the centre was "between £900,000 and £1,000,000", largely caused by its "aging infrastructure" and such government funding was "not sustainable".

It also stated that, as an "accessible public community service", it would always require "public investment".

The report concluded, while "no final solution or capital commitment has been confirmed", there was a "clear evidenced need for investment going forward".

Montague said "there's an awful lot of money patching" the centre up constantly and "huge sums" were needed for certain repairs.

He added the States would be "looking across" its whole estate and facilities to ensure "efficient use".

The States was "open-minded" to who could run the facilities but that, while private organisations may become involved, Montague said "would imagine" there would still be public involvement in it.

He said there was a "range of options" for the centre, including a full rebuild or an internal redesign and "it's not enough to have a kind of managed decline".

The BBC asked centre users what it meant to them.

Youngster Toby said it was "really important" to him as it was the "only place that I can learn to swim here, except for the sea".

His mother Lucy added the centre was "one of the big hubs for kids" and her family are "just glad it's here".

One mother, Alana, said the centre was "integral" to her family's week.

She said: "We do swimming, baby sensory, the bowling club and the cage... [it is] massively important."

She added the pool allowed children to learn "a key skill, as you can't live surrounded by water without being confident".

"It's a very social place, without the social aspect, where would kids be today," she also said.

Her children Harry, Freddie and Imogen agreed their favourite thing was "getting to play with their friends".

Alana said she felt maintenance could be helpful but "to have a facility is better than no facility".

Katie Blampied said she "wouldn't want us to lose it" as her children "learned to swim here and I've been to classes all through the years".

"I know people who use the sporting facilities a lot, people who are in productions here or who teach at the swim school and they all do a great job", she said.

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