Uckfield Leisure Centre

13 March 2023

Question:

Dear Councillor Newton,

In the Susses Express recently, there was an article about Uckfield Leisure Centre stating that Wealden District Council would not continue to operate the centre. Instead WDC would concentrate on Crowborough and Hailsham. How does that help leisure in continuing to expand Uckfield and its surrounding area.

 

Ian Thornton

Answer:

Dear Mr Thornton

Thank you for your question.

Following a comprehensive district-wide leisure provision review, in October 2020 Wealden resolved to hand back the dual use leisure centre in Uckfield to East Sussex County Council at the end of its lease, in large part to remove a layer of bureaucracy in the operation of the centre that is predominantly run to serve the school to which it is attached.

Following the uncertainty caused by the COVID 19 pandemic, in order to assist with an orderly transition back to ESCC the lease was extended at Uckfield for a further year up to July 2023.

ESCC continues to look at the future options for the site post July 2023, with a public consultation due to launch soon. We would encourage the public to take part in this consultation.

Leisure provision is a priority for WDC across the district, the work continues in regard to the Community Sports Hub which will serve the whole district, along with looking a future options at Crowborough pool. In regard to potential future growth across the district, leisure provision will be duly considered through the forthcoming Local Plan.

 

Best wishes

Ann Newton