This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-64028781
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Wadebridge Community Leisure Centre 'staggered' by energy price hike | Wadebridge Community Leisure Centre 'staggered' by energy price hike |
| (4 months later) | |
| The electricity bill for one month far exceeded what the group had predicted | The electricity bill for one month far exceeded what the group had predicted |
| The electricity bill for one month far exceeded what the group had predicted | |
| A community group that took over a leisure centre was shocked its energy bill was more than £15,000 for a month. | A community group that took over a leisure centre was shocked its energy bill was more than £15,000 for a month. |
| The Friends of Wadebridge Leisure Centre (FOWLC) saved the facility after previous operator GLL said it could no longer afford to run it. | The Friends of Wadebridge Leisure Centre (FOWLC) saved the facility after previous operator GLL said it could no longer afford to run it. |
| Previously, the centre's annual energy costs were £85,000 but they are now expected to be £250,000. | Previously, the centre's annual energy costs were £85,000 but they are now expected to be £250,000. |
| The government said a bill relief scheme had been introduced for places like leisure centres. | The government said a bill relief scheme had been introduced for places like leisure centres. |
| But Amanda Pennington, from FOWLC, told BBC Radio Cornwall the bill was "absolutely staggering". | But Amanda Pennington, from FOWLC, told BBC Radio Cornwall the bill was "absolutely staggering". |
| "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. | "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." | "The reality is far worse, it is likely to be £250,000 a year for gas, electricity and water." |
| Wadebridge leisure centre was saved form closure earlier this year | Wadebridge leisure centre was saved form closure earlier this year |
| Wadebridge leisure centre was saved form closure earlier this year | |
| The group is calling for government support for leisure centres, with energy prices set to rise again in April, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). | The group is calling for government support for leisure centres, with energy prices set to rise again in April, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). |
| Ms Pennington, who is also Mayor of Wadebridge, said: "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. | Ms Pennington, who is also Mayor of Wadebridge, said: "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." | "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." |
| The Wadebridge centre is reducing its energy use where possible and there are plans to install solar panels and other renewable energy sources. | The Wadebridge centre is reducing its energy use where possible and there are plans to install solar panels and other renewable energy sources. |
| Since FOWLC took over, membership has risen from about 780 members to 1,100 and the centre is now employing more staff, increasing employees from seven to 15. | Since FOWLC took over, membership has risen from about 780 members to 1,100 and the centre is now employing more staff, increasing employees from seven to 15. |
| Prices rise reluctance | Prices rise reluctance |
| It is also open longer and provides more classes for users. | It is also open longer and provides more classes for users. |
| The group is reluctant to raise prices for users as keeping it accessible to as many people as possible "was a key reason why we took over the centre", Ms Pennington said. | The group is reluctant to raise prices for users as keeping it accessible to as many people as possible "was a key reason why we took over the centre", Ms Pennington said. |
| A government spokesperson said: "We know many swimming pools are contending with major increases in running costs. That is why we have introduced the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, which means some pay less than half the predicted wholesale cost of energy this winter. | A government spokesperson said: "We know many swimming pools are contending with major increases in running costs. That is why we have introduced the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, which means some pay less than half the predicted wholesale cost of energy this winter. |
| "We provided an unprecedented £1bn to ensure the survival of the grassroots, professional sport and leisure sectors throughout the pandemic - including the £100m National Leisure Centre Recovery Fund, which secured the survival and reopening of more than 1,100 swimming pools across the country." | "We provided an unprecedented £1bn to ensure the survival of the grassroots, professional sport and leisure sectors throughout the pandemic - including the £100m National Leisure Centre Recovery Fund, which secured the survival and reopening of more than 1,100 swimming pools across the country." |
| Follow BBC News South West on Twitter, external, Facebook, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk, external. | |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Cornwall | Cornwall |
| Cost of Living | Cost of Living |
| Wadebridge | Wadebridge |