Business as usual for all six leisure centres

From the archive, first published Thursday 20th Oct 2005.

BOSSES at North Wiltshire Leisure have reassured customers that its six sports centres will not be closing, despite the suspension of its senior management team.

It follows concerns that the company's six centres ­ The Olympiad in Chippenham, Springfield in Corsham, White Horse in Calne, The Activity Zone in Malmesbury, Lime Kiln in Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Leisure Centre ­ could fall victim to the problems.

Chief executive Mike Parlour, commercial director Gary Milne and head of finance and administration Bruce Ponting will not be allowed back to work until an investigation has been carried out ­ which could take up to six weeks.

Their suspension follows a catalogue of problems regarding poor performance and the way the business is managed.

But Michael Buckley, chairman of North Wiltshire Leisure, said it was business as usual at the sports centres.

He said an interim management team, Wycombe Leisure Ltd, had been put in place to run the centres and started work on Tuesday.

Mr Buckley said: "The NWLL board will be carrying out an investigation into the management operations as a result of a number of serious concerns raised by North Wiltshire District Council and a sub-group of the board. The interim team will be in place for the duration of the investigation and has started today.

"Rick Durrant of Wycombe Leisure Ltd will be acting chief executive for this period. Along with his team he will ensure that a seamless service is delivered to all NWLL customers. Their first priority is to visit all the centres and meet NWLL staff.

"The board is confident that Wycombe Leisure Ltd, which has a great deal of experience and expertise in interim leisure centre management, will be able to assist North Wiltshire Leisure Ltd through the next few weeks."

The decision to suspend the top managers was made last Monday by the company, which runs the leisure centres in partnership with North Wiltshire District Council.

Council boss Bob Marshall said: "North Wiltshire District Council has been raising concerns about the performance of NWLL for some time.

"We have been having extensive talks with them about how they are best able to deliver the leisure contract.

"I can understand customers' concerns.

`However, I can assure them that the NWLL remain committed to providing the leisure contract and that all the leisure centres operated by NWLL are open for business as normal."

He said the company had had three chief executives since it was established.

"Now we are asking, how in the absence of managers, are they able to deliver the service?" he said.

"However we understand they are on the brink of appointing interim management and organising an audit of the organisation."

The trust is headed by Michael Buckley.

He has taken on the role in a voluntary capacity.

"We are really lucky Michael Buckley has been prepared to see this through and is determined to take it through to a more stable situation," said Mr Marshall.

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