Kentish Express Ashford & District
Fury after trust loses contract to manage stadium and lakes
Council bosses have stripped Ashford Leisure Trust of responsibility for running the Julie Rose Stadium and Conningbrook Lakes following two years of deadlock in contract talks.
Ashford Borough Council (ABC) has a long-term agreement with the trust to run the Stour Centre, and had been discussing options for a similar deal for the athletics track and watersports site in Willesborough Road.
There has been a rolling 30-day contract extension in place to run the facilities since March 2014, and the council had wanted the trust to prove it could bring in investment to run the facilities in the long term.
But talks broke down in July last year, and following a meeting last week the council’s cabinet members approved a plan to hand over the contracts to national company Serco for the next 18 months to two years.
ABC Cabinet member Cllr Jessamy Blanford, portfolio holder for culture, leisure and environment said: “It is really important to have modern, up to date, well run sporting facilities in the borough and we’re keen to bring in a professional sports company.
“We are in no way trying to remove the Ashford Leisure Trust, they have done a good job. We just think Serco can now work with us to improve our overall offer.”
Cllr Neil Shorter said the situation was “regrettable” but said a new contract would be put out to tender in two year’s time.
He added: “Ashford Leisure Trust will be able to bid for the services. The option of bringing in Serco in the long term is by no means a done deal.”
The decision sparked fury among members of the Ashford Leisure Trust at the meeting, with Cllr Aline Hicks storming out of the chamber.
Trust chairman Mick Hubert said trustees and senior staff members have been left “greatly disappointed”, especially as many have been working at the Julie Rose Stadium since it first opened in 1997.
He said: “We were disappointed to see the resolution passed unchallenged. It is a concern the opportunity to bid for the contract was not advertised to us or the wider leisure market.
“We have consistently tried to engage with the council and would strongly refute the council’s claims made during the meeting.”
He said the trust will continue to work in partnership with the community and will continue to make efforts to engage with Ashford Borough Council.
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