Wolverhampton swimmers and gym users could be forced to pay for services they don't use

People have hit out at the council's new WV Active scheme which launches next month.

The 'simplified' membership prices no longer offer tariffs for swimming, meaning people could pay up to £90 more for an all-encompassing membership.

The charges come despite a high profile campaign by health bosses to curb obesity in the city, with Public Health saying it is its number one priority to solve the fat crisis in Wolverhampton.

Bert Williams Leisure Centre, Aldersley Leisure Village and Central Baths have retained their names but now come under the new brand.

Darren Flavell, 48, of Lower Gornal, has had a swimming Fitcard at Bert Williams Leisure Centre for the past three years, for which he pays £150 per year. Under the new WV Active scheme he will be paying £240.

Mr Favell said: "I don't want the gym access. If I wanted to join the gym, I would join the gym. I just want to swim.

"It is an extra £90 for something I am not going to use."

He believes there are a lot of people in his position, particularly older people, and he is now looking into how much membership will cost at the Tipton pool instead.

After receiving a letter from the council detailing the changes, Mr Flavell complained to Dudley North MP Ian Austin, as well as the Leisure Centre and their help line, who told him the changes would be going through no matter what he said.

Another regular swimmer unhappy with the new scheme is Andrew Ashby, of Penn, who sent a formal complaint to WV Active after receiving the council's letter.

He has been swimming at Central Baths for almost 25 years, and said he has never chosen to use the gym at any of the council's leisure centres, but attends a gym that better suits his needs near his home.

"As a result of your re-branding exercise you are forcing me to have a gym membership...which I simply do not want.

"I have no idea why you have chosen to force swimmers to take up gym membership, but it seems that you are actively seeking to discourage regular swimmers from using Wolverhampton's swimming pools, which seems counter-productive when the health benefits of regular swimming and the need for the Council to generate extra revenue are taken into account."

Mr Ashby's wife will face an increase of £135, 128.57 per cent, on her membership which is currently £105 for the swim-only option.

Councillor Elias Mattu, cabinet member for leisure and communities, said the council is confident WV Active offers the best value fitness memberships in the area, and they had done a lot of research to ensure prices are attractive and offer 'superb' value for money.

Gold memberships offering unlimited swim, gym, and sauna, will be £10 per month concessions, £15 corporate, and £20 for adults.

Platinum memberships will offer the same as gold, plus unlimited Les Mills and other fitness classes, and will cost £15 per month concessions, £22.50 corporate, and £30 adults.

Councillor Mattu said: "The creation of WV Active will mean that for many of our existing members, they've had the great news that their membership fee is going down and clearly they are delighted. For some others, there is an increase and understandably they won't be happy about that.

"We have to get the balance right between creating a modern and sustainable service that safeguards the future of our centres and attracts people to use our facilities, while still offering the most affordable and best value memberships for miles around. We think that WV Active – offering the use of three centres for one membership – strikes that balance perfectly."