Wadebridge Leisure Centre Cornwall £15k energy bill for one month

Wadebridge Leisure Centre was saved by the Friends of Wadebridge Leisure Centre (FOWLC) after previous operator GLL said it could no longer afford to run it.

They said that before they took over they were told that the leisure centre, which includes a swimming pool, would cost around £85,000 a year for all utilities. However with the rising cost of energy they have now been hit with a bill for £15,000 just for one month’s electricity.

The group says now that they expect that the annual cost of utilities for the centre could hit £250,000 a year. They say that all leisure centres and pools are facing similar issues and called on the Government to provide more support.

Amanda Pennington, from FOWLC, said: “When we entered the tender process we were able to see the GLL bills and we found they were paying £85,000 a year, that is for all utilities – gas, electricity and water.

“When we did our forecasting we forecast that the bills could cost £135,000 a year and when we did that we expected that to be way higher than it actually would be, but thought it was sensible to go high. The reality is far worse, it is likely to be £250,000 a year for gas, electricity and water.”

As an indicator of how high prices have risen, Amanda pointed out that at the beginning of the year gas prices were 4p per kilowatt per hour and electricity was 14p per kilowatt per hour. Now that has risen to 65p to 70p per kilowatt per hour for gas and electricity is over £1 per kilowatt per hour.

The electricity bill for more than £15,000 sent to the Friends of Wadebridge Leisure Centre (Image: Amanda Pennington - free to use)

Amanda added: “It is absolutely staggering, particularly for leisure centres with swimming pools. Those centres in community ownership with pools are going to be really vulnerable, especially as energy prices are set to go up again in April.

“Across the UK 85% of community leisure centres are saying if they are not in trouble now they will be and will be under serious threat of closure by April next year. The Government needs to do something, there are huge public benefits of swimming and having leisure centres, but they seem to be sticking their heads in the sand.”

Amanda stressed that it was not just leisure centres but all small businesses which were facing uncertainty about how high their bills might rise next year. She said that FOWLC was working to do what it could to reduce its bills so the centre can stay open.

She said that they would be reducing their energy use where possible and there are plans to install solar panels and other renewable energy sources at the centre. However she said that the group does not want to raise costs for customers.

“We can’t pass it on to users, they just don’t have the money. Everybody’s salary is less than it was. We believe that we are delivering a vital service and we want it to be accessible for all, that was a key reason why we took over the centre.”

Since FOWLC took over the leisure centre membership has risen from around 780 members to 1,100 and the centre is employing more staff than before. It is also open longer and is providing more classes for users.

“The general picture is really great and encouraging,” said Amanda, “but these energy prices are a real concern for us.”