Price freeze at Fife leisure centres as doors set to re-open

Entry fees for Fife's leisure centres are being frozen at 2020 prices ahead of re-opening later this month.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Paul Vaughan, the authority's head of communities, says the move will encourage people to return to the venues from April 26.

The freeze will remain in place until April 2022, when a planned new membership scheme and "simpler" pricing scheme will be introduced.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Vaughan told councillors last week: "What we are proposing is that we freeze prices for the coming year - 2021-22 - to support the return of groups, clubs and individuals to physical activity and sport and then work to phase in any changes in those prices from April 2022."

The new swimming pool at Kirkcaldy Leisure CentreThe new swimming pool at Kirkcaldy Leisure Centre
The new swimming pool at Kirkcaldy Leisure Centre

Other initiatives are in the works to encourage Fifers to get active post-Covid, despite acknowledgements that attendance rates may not return to pre-pandemic levels for up to two years.

A new booking system is being introduced from next month allowing locals to book and pay for fitness classes and other facilities in advance.

The council and Fife Sport and Leisure Trust (FSLT) are also aiming to join up parts of the region's fitness offering to create an all-in-one concession and membership scheme.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

At present, Fife has two concession schemes - "Fifestyle" is run by the council for its community use facilities within schools and outdoor centres, while FSLT offers a separate concession scheme and annual memberships for the Kingdom's 12 leisure centres.

This set-up has been recognised as "confusing" and "lacking clarity" by both the council and its arms-length leisure body.

A plan has been hatched to align the two in some way - potentially meaning more discounts and membership benefits for Fifers - with details to be revealed later this year.

As part of its latest budget the council administration has also agreed to spend a total of £21.9 million on improving a number of Fife leisure centres including Burntisland's troubled Beacon Centre, which has been saved from permanent closure.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Cllr Judy Hamilton said: "Through Covid we've discovered that physical activity, getting out and about, is so, so important.

"Inactivity is a major contributor to one in 14 deaths so health and wellbeing is a very, very important part of our strategy."

Thank you for reading this article on our free-to-read website. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by Coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

Please consider purchasing a subscription to our print newspaper to help fund our trusted, fact-checked journalism.

Related topics: