Letter: What has happened to the New Forest leisure centres?

SIR – What on earth has New Forest District Council let happen to our community leisure centres?

It appears they have completely sold them down the river with not a care for the welfare of local communities or the many hard working, friendly, helpful staff that run them, many of whom have worked there for many years and become part of the pleasant experience of a visit to the leisure centre.

I have been a leisure centre member for many years, mainly using the New Milton site.

Sadly, over the past year or so, I have seen the gradual run-down state of the site and equipment, and also the very low morale of the staff who are under increasing pressure to try and keep the centre running to its full capacity and efficiency, facing a daily barrage of complaints from dissatisfied customers.

Many members of staff have left because of the increasing pressures placed on them, suffering poor health, and others having to leave because their jobs no longer exist or have become intolerable.

Nobody can dispute the financial pressures of rising fuel bills etc but who can Freedom Leisure think they are kidding if they think they are offering a better or even the same service as the council offered with the increasing cutbacks of staff (including maintenance staff) and still maintain the level of safety and efficiency of fitness equipment and also to deal with medical emergencies and procedures.

Most of the staff in the leisure centres are trained lifesavers.

Is there not a duty from government and local authorities to provide a facility for the health and welfare of the local communities that is in the reach of the majority of the people?

I thought that it was beneficial to maintain the health, fitness and welfare of the communities to lessen the pressures placed on the NHS!

Brenda Frances,

New Milton