Reports from Trade Union Sources

Cheltenham   Deeping   Dorking   Flintshire   St Albans  Salisbury   Salisbury 2   Swale    Uttlesford  

Unison Companies Update Issue No 9 ,October 2006  http://www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/B2838.pdf  

A leisure centre in Leicester run by Leisure Connection has received a number of complaints about the state of its repair. The complaints about the centre in Deeping St James include broken glass in the sports hall, dirty floors, toilets and changing rooms, faults with the swimming pool boiler, leaks in a squash court and outdated or faulty equipment in the gym. The future of the leisure centre is uncertain.

Unison Companies Update Issue 37, April 2005 www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/B1835.pdf 

"LEISURE CONNECTION Users are complaining that the Hertfordshire Westminster Lodge Aquazooms is closed too often, especially on Sundays when they would be most used. Leisure Connection has had to close them four times in three months. Staff shortages are said to be the cause of the closure of the popular flumes. At the same time, Bricket Wood pool is closed, leaving the district short of swimming facilities."

Unison Companies Updat, October 2004 http://www.unison.org.uk/bargaining/doc_view.asp?did=1589&pid=752 

Uttlesford District Council has issued a warning to Leisure Connection, the company running the Great Dunmow Leisure Centre and the Mountfitchet-Romeera Leisure Centre. Penalties could result if improvement targets are not met by January. A public survey has revealed problems including poor customer awareness and hygiene, lack of staff knowledge, expensive membership, a shortage of courses and the need for repairs. Some steps have already been taken by the contractor to address these issues.

Unison Companies Update Issue No. 32 September 2004  http://www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/B1512.pdf 

Surrey council residents are concerned about the cleanliness of the Dorking Sports Centre, as well as the state of the equipment and cutbacks in classes. To make matters worse, the air conditioning broke down in the middle of a heat wave. Leisure Connection, who run the centre, have been dealing with the problems since the builders, Ballast, went soon after completion.

Unison Companies Update Bulletin Issue 25, April 2004  http://www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/B1288.pdf 

Flintshire County Council abandoned talks with Leisure Connection to take over its leisure centres, swimming pools and sports halls. The council was looking for a £10m investment, which failed to materialise.

Salisbury DC is taking back management of a leisure centre run by Leisure
Connection since 2002 when the £6.5m swimming pool was opened. The centre will come under council control when the contract expires at the end of March 2004. 

Existing staff will transfer to the council and there will be no redundancies. Staff
consultation has taken place. All Salisbury leisure centres are now council run and the council is considering setting up a leisure trust.

The Leisure Connection contract in Swale, Kent has not been renewed. Several other companies are currently bidding.

From Unison Company Update Bulletin December 2002 

available from http://www.unison.org.uk/bargaining/doc_view.asp?did=618 

Swimmers at the Five Rivers Leisure Centre and Pool run by Leisure Connection in Salisbury have complained about grubby floors left unwashed for hours, waste-water filters clogged with hair and paper, cold showers and broken-down thermostats. The new pool cost £6m to build and was opened in July 2002.

Cheltenham Borough Council decided not to renew its contract with Leisure Connection when it runs out in April and will bring the running of leisure facilities back in house. The decision followed a council-commissioned users' survey, which found that 40% judged the centre's cleanliness as poor or very poor and complained that there were too few staff.