Bracknell: Leisure Centre plea from community campaign

Defend Our Community Services, a community-action group from Bracknell, has launched a three-pronged attack on the authority following recent controversies.

These include the row over playground fees at The Look Out, worries about the demolition of Coopers Hill Community Centre and the news BFC is set to bailout leisure providers Everyone Active.

DOCS has called on the council to take action on each of these issues, with a plea to return the management of the borough’s leisure services to the council from Everyone Active a key focus.

A spokesperson said: “Bracknell Forest Council privatised the management of leisure services in 2018 giving the contract to Everyone Active.

“Yet only two years into a ten-year contract the council taxpayers are being asked to bail out the provider to the tune of up to £2.49million.

READ MORE: Leisure providers set for big bailout from the council

“We say no to the bailout, return the management of Bracknell Leisure Centre, Coral Reef and Downshire Golf Complex back to the council.”

As the News revealed in August, a BFC support package for Everyone Active was agreed so the leisure operators can keep the three centres running.

It involved a management fee ‘holiday’ and writing off re-opening costs for the provider.

A quarter (three months worth) of the cost of the management fee holiday will be repaid over the life of Everyone Active and Bracknell Forest Council’s leisure contract.

Whether the other three quarters are paid back is dependant on the profits achieved by Everyone Active.

But Terry Pearce, from DOCS, said the group had campaigned against the outsourcing of leisure services “for years.”

He added: “DOCS opposed the original decision to privatise the management of leisure services management.

“We do not think that Bracknell [Forest] council taxpayers should have to bail out a private provider.

“We believe that it should go back in-house, especially as there have been complaints by some users of the service provided.”

This is not the only issue DOCS has taken up — the group is also wanting to see the end to ‘playground fees’ at The Look Out Discovery Centre.

The new charge, which asked families for £10 to use the site’s equipment before this was reduced to £5 following a community backlash, was introduced to limit numbers at the site.

But DOCS says this reduction is “still unacceptable” and has called for all charges to be removed.

READ MORE: Charity says The Look Out fee is like 'social cleansing'

The final issue distressing DOCS is the demolition of Coopers Hill Community Centre.

The site is set to be bulldozed and will make way for 400 new homes in the town centre as part of the council’s latest regeneration plans.

DOCS say the Centre is a “well-used and loved community asset”, however.

A spokesman added: “It is not just a youth centre, many small groups, including older residents and those relying on public transport, use it.

“Where will they go now?

LETTERS: 'Bracknell needs Coopers Hill Community Centre'

“Local people need community meeting places, not yet more unaffordable housing.

“Enough is enough.”

The News asked BFC to respond to the points raised by DOCS.

Kevin Gibbs, a director at the council, said: “Like many other local authorities, the council has faced a number of financial challenges in recent years and never more so than during current times.

“Finding solutions that balance the needs of the community and the resources we have available is an ongoing process.

“We would encourage the community to continue to be involved in shaping and helping us to provide the right solutions.”