A Derbyshire town’s leisure centre is set to have a programme of energy-saving improvements thanks to Government funding.
Following Amber Valley Borough Council’s successful application, Alfreton Leisure Centre, which is managed by Places Leisure under contract to the council, has benefited to the tune of £198,605 from the £40 million Phase 2 capital round of the SPSF scheme administered by Sport England.
The council has also been awarded £175,000 for investment at Belper Leisure Centre.
The new grant awards for both leisure centres is set to be spent on capital investment for energy efficient management of the sites.
Councillor Chris Emmas-Williams said: “With this week’s announcement, the award for capital energy-saving improvements provides the much-needed building blocks on the journey for Belper’s (Leisure Centre) long-term survival.
“”I am also over the moon that the council’s own facility in Alfreton has been awarded almost £200,000 from the national funding pot. This really is a day for celebration.”
More than 500 capital interventions in over 300 facilities with swimming pools have been awarded funding from the Government and Sport England’s £60 million SPSF capital investment programme.
Lisa Dodd-Mayne, executive director of Sport England, said: “Swimming pools and leisure centres are vital community resources and are enormously important in helping people to be physically active.
“Many pools have faced a real and significant threat to their survival this year, as local authorities and operators have battled the challenge of increased energy and wider costs, weakened reserves and difficulties with retaining staff.
“Sport England is proud of the role we’ve played in supporting these facilities through this difficult period. We hope today’s funding announcement will enable more public pools to improve their energy efficiency to be more environmentally and financially sustainable, so they remain available for future generations to enjoy.”

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