Income low for leisure
Income from Dudley's leisure centres is expected to fall £150,000 short of targets this year because not enough people are using them, it has been revealed.
Income from Dudley's leisure centres is expected to fall £150,000 short of targets this year because not enough people are using them, it has been revealed.
A senior councillor today blamed a lack of investment at Dudley leisure centre, Coseley Baths and Crystal Leisure centre Stourbridge, for the shortfall.
The rise in privately-run heath clubs and the lack of people taking exercise could also be to blame.
Halesowen Leisure Cen-tre is the only council-owned facility which is performing better than expected this year after its gym was given a revamp and membership tripled.
But although council bosses admit they expect to miss some of their targets they say the centres are still doing better than last year.
Labour councillor for leisure and culture Tim Crumpton said customer numbers were affected by the unexpected closures of the fun pool at Crystal Leisure Centre which was shut for more than a month and the ongoing closure of the sports dome at Dudley Leisure Centre.
Figures released to the Express & Star show that Dudley Leisure Centre looks set to fall just under £90,000 short of its expected income of £529,000 - but it will still be more than £25,000 up on last year's total.
Coseley Swimming Pool has an income target £186,000 but is now only forecast to bring in £150,000 - a few thousand more than last year.
Crystal Leisure Centre is expected to fall just under £20,000 short of its income target of £950,000 but will be up £100,000 on last year.
Councillor Charles Fraser Macnamara: "These projections are exactly that, leisure activities are an optional activity. I don't think people are necessarily exercising less but perhaps in different ways.
"I am told private clubs and other local authorities are in a similar position.
"We will see what innovative things we can do to bring more people into the centres."
By Helen Cartwright
