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17/03/2015
Visits to Cotswold Leisure Cirencester are on course to exceed 500,000 this year for the first time ever, figures released today reveal.
Even without data for March (the final month of the 2014/15 financial year) figures show that over 456,000 visits have been made to the facility – which is owned by Cotswold District Council and operated by SLM. This compares with a total of 440,660 for 2013/14, which was also a record year.
Even without data for March (the final month of the 2014/15 financial year) figures show that over 456,000 visits have been made to the facility – which is owned by Cotswold District Council and operated by SLM. This compares with a total of 440,660 for 2013/14, which was also a record year.
The same upward pattern is replicated at the other two leisure centres which SLM operates: Bourton-on-the-Water has recorded almost 134,000 visits so far (compared with 123,089 in 2013/14) and there have been almost 33,000 visits so far at Chipping Campden (up from 30,318 in 2013/14).
There is also good news regarding the Council’s Corinium Museum, which is operated by SLM. Up to the end of February there were almost 47,000 visits during 2014/15 and there is a possibility of reaching the 50,000 mark when the final tally is calculated at the end of March. Even at this stage, the figures are some 20% better than the total of 38,496 visits for 2013/14
Responsibility for running the three leisure centres plus the Corinium Museum in Cirencester was transferred to SLM/Everyone Active about 18 months ago under a 10-year contract. Admission prices have been frozen for the last three years and there are no increases planned until at least 2016.
Cllr Chris Hancock, Cotswold District Council’s cabinet member for enterprise and partnerships, said: “It’s great to see this upward trend in visitor numbers at these leisure facilities, especially at a time when national figures indicate that there is an increased risk of obesity because many people are failing to exercise regularly or follow guidelines for healthy living.
“There is no doubt that SLM have made a difference to the wellbeing of people in the Cotswolds in the short time that they have been operating the leisure centres.
“I am also very pleased to see so many people flocking to the multi-award winning Corinium Museum, and I understand that its inclusion in the Cirencester Hare Trail played a part in boosting the visitor numbers.”
Jamie Nesbit, the area contracts manager at SLM, said: “We are delighted that more people are coming through the doors of the leisure centres and the museum.
“Since the transfer of their operation to our company, we have been developing new programmes and activities in the leisure centres to engage with the least active people in the community.
” We are heartened by our success so far and will continue to find innovative ways to increase the appeal of our leisure and culture offer.”
There is also good news regarding the Council’s Corinium Museum, which is operated by SLM. Up to the end of February there were almost 47,000 visits during 2014/15 and there is a possibility of reaching the 50,000 mark when the final tally is calculated at the end of March. Even at this stage, the figures are some 20% better than the total of 38,496 visits for 2013/14
Responsibility for running the three leisure centres plus the Corinium Museum in Cirencester was transferred to SLM/Everyone Active about 18 months ago under a 10-year contract. Admission prices have been frozen for the last three years and there are no increases planned until at least 2016.
Cllr Chris Hancock, Cotswold District Council’s cabinet member for enterprise and partnerships, said: “It’s great to see this upward trend in visitor numbers at these leisure facilities, especially at a time when national figures indicate that there is an increased risk of obesity because many people are failing to exercise regularly or follow guidelines for healthy living.
“There is no doubt that SLM have made a difference to the wellbeing of people in the Cotswolds in the short time that they have been operating the leisure centres.
“I am also very pleased to see so many people flocking to the multi-award winning Corinium Museum, and I understand that its inclusion in the Cirencester Hare Trail played a part in boosting the visitor numbers.”
Jamie Nesbit, the area contracts manager at SLM, said: “We are delighted that more people are coming through the doors of the leisure centres and the museum.
“Since the transfer of their operation to our company, we have been developing new programmes and activities in the leisure centres to engage with the least active people in the community.
” We are heartened by our success so far and will continue to find innovative ways to increase the appeal of our leisure and culture offer.”
