Tunbridge Wells  

LC Connections contract with Tunbridge Wells Council ended in September 2006 with Fusion-Lifestyle taking over the running of centres.  The council press release spoke of being "confident that Fusion-Lifestyle will bring a new impetus to the development of the sports centres and the service they offer."

In September 2005 a request was made to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council under the Freedom of Information Act. No performance management reports were sent but  two "Rectification Notices" for Weald Sports Centre were received.

The first was dated 16.11.04  and the time was noted as 10 am. It refers to "Ladies dry change, Ladies dry change toilets, Disabled toilets - dry change side, Drinking fountain, Men's dry change., Men's dry change toilets, Sports Hall, Men's dry toilets - car park side". 

Under the heading Details of Failure, is written: "These areas were all dirty and had clearly not been cleaned for several days in some cases. Many of the failings were as on the previous site visit and some had deteriorated. According to the Daily Facility Check Sheet the Men's dry change toilets had been cleaned at 0730 hrs - however, this was clearly not the case. Other parts of the building were also borderline 'fail'."

A summary of customer comments dated "November 2005" for the centre notes that, despite the persistent lack of cleaning only 2 customer comments on this state of affairs. This lack of complaints about persistent failure to clean raises questions. Have people given up complaining? When a complaint is lodged how many failings or how much failure does it represent?

The second rectification notice was dated 18.1.05 and concerned the Pool Hall. "Only one lifeguard on duty during unprogrammed swimming session.  Sole lifeguard entered poolside store to obtain poles for lunchtime lane swimming session thus leaving the pool unsupervised."

In its Comments Review under lack of cleanliness LC refers to "severe staff shortages" over the last two months impacting on services. East Sussex County Council publishes a monthly report on unemployment. The January 2005 bulletin says there were over 5000 East Sussex people out of work. Of these 1327 lived in Tunbridge Wells. 

Problems with cleanliness were also noted in the Weald Sports Centre Comments Reviews for April, May, June 2005. Comment Reviews for Putlands Sports and Leisure were also received for 5 months. Four of these, March, April, May and June 2005, refers to cleaning issues. One of these noted that the Sports Hall "could do with a thorough clean".