Future of Eastbourne Sovereign Centre announced

The decision was made by Eastbourne Leisure Trust and its managing agent Serco Leisure, following lengthy discussions with the council, after reaching a break point within the current contract.

Staff have been advised of the changes, which include all employees being transferred to council employment contracts.

In the meantime staff will continue on furlough, via the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, until they are asked to return to work.

Eastbourne council’s lead member for tourism and enterprise Margaret Bannister said, “We are committed to ensuring the continuation of our leisure services, so it is essential the council steps in to maintain the running of the centre, for the time being.

“We want to reassure staff, residents and visitors that we are doing everything we can to minimise disruption and ensure a smooth transition, so we are in the best position possible when it is time to reopen.

In the meantime we will be monitoring government advice, preparing the centre for reopening and making the necessary health and safety adjustments in response to Covid-19, so we can open the doors as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Hugh Graham, the chair of the Eastbourne Leisure Trust, said, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank our managing agent Serco and the on-site team at the centre, both the people who work there now and those who have spent any time since 2004 working for the trust.

“All parties in the partnership had hoped to be able to extend the contract and were actively working towards this. However, the pernicious effects of the coronavirus pandemic mean that the decision to hand back control of the centre to the council was the only feasible option open to us.

“I am very proud of what the Eastbourne Leisure Trust achieved at the Sovereign Centre, providing affordable, quality sports and leisure facilities to the people of Eastbourne and to the many tourists who used the centre during holiday periods. Moreover, we have distributed £70,000 to sports organisations in the town over the 16-year period as a result of our profit-sharing agreement with Serco.”

Simon Bailey, the managing director of Serco Leisure, managing agents for the site, said “Serco Leisure has enjoyed a successful partnership with the Eastbourne Leisure Trust and the council since we took over management of the Sovereign Centre in 2004. We are disappointed to be passing control of this great facility back to the council and would like to thank the trust and the council for working closely with us over the last 16 years.

“I would like to thank every member of the Eastbourne team for their hard work and professionalism while working with Serco Leisure. I wish the whole team all the best for the future and hope for the continued success of, what is, an excellent leisure facility.”

The Sovereign Centre closed on March 23, following the UK government’s Covid-19 lockdown regulations.

Due to current guidelines, indoor leisure facilities across England are not expected to open before July 4.

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