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Gloucester's leisure facilities have a new interim operator

Google GL1 building in GloucesterGoogle
The leisure centre closed after Aspire Trust went into liquidation.

A new interim operator has been announced for a leisure centre that had to suddenly close.

Freedom Leisure, a charitable and not-for-profit trust, will run Gloucester's facilities until a permanent operator is found.

The former operator of the GL1 centre, Aspire Sports Trust, went into liquidation.

Gloucester City Council has been working with the University of Gloucestershire to reopen facilities.

There has been a phased re-opening that has included the pitches at Oxstalls, the Oxstalls Sports Arena and the swimming club is using the pool again.

Gloucester City Swimming Club One of the pools at the GL1 leisure centreGloucester City Swimming Club
Freedom Leisure will continue with the phased re-opening, with the swimming club already back in the pool

Freedom Leisure manages more than 100 facilities across England and Wales, also working with Forest of Dean District Council and Cotswold District Council in Gloucestershire.

It will be contacting local sports clubs to discuss what they need and continue to re-open GL1.

Gloucester City Council's cabinet member for culture and leisure, Andy Lewis, told BBC Radio Gloucestershire that this further re-opening will happen "within weeks" but cannot be more specific.

"It's one of those things - you've got to have health and safety. They have to hire people," he said.

Mr Lewis said they do not want to rush, that they want "the right people, in the right place, doing the right job".

The council said former employees and freelancers of Aspire are guaranteed an interview and are invited to a recruitment day at Oxstalls Sports Park on 6 November.

Mr Lewis added that Freedom Leisure will be getting the same amount of money that Aspire would have been.

GL1 building in Gloucester with a close-up of the aspire sign next to it
Aspire ran the centre for 15 years and said it had made the decision to close because of concerns it could no longer operate legally

The operator's CEO, Ivan Horsfall Turner, said the firm was "delighted" to get the contract.

"Our vision is to improve lives through leisure and we very much look forward to working with our new colleagues at these vitally important local amenities," he said.

The council is looking for a permanent provider for the next 10 to 15 years Mr Lewis said "there is a proper procedure in place that is ongoing".

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