Plans for closed Gateshead and Birtley leisure centres

Gateshead Leisure Centre in Saltwell and Birtley Swimming Centre were closed by Gateshead Council in July, sparking controversy and protests.

But their communities have rallied behind efforts to save the beloved facilities and efforts to get them back open within a matter of months are pushing ahead.

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Representatives from two local organisations bidding to take control of the boarded-up leisure centres from the council presented their proposals to councillors on Monday morning, at the close of a marathon scrutiny hearing that delved into how the closures had come about.

The Gateshead Active group seeking to complete a community asset transfer for the massive sports hub on Prince Consort Road has begun recruiting new staff for the centre and is pushing hard to make sure its doors can reopen before the turn of the year.

Robert Waugh, the former councillor who chairs the asset transfer group, told Monday’s committee that there was too much “dead space” in the centre that could be used to generate income.

Gateshead Leisure Centre, boarded up after its closure (Image: LDR)

As well as putting the centre’s cafe and climbing wall back into service, there are plans to have a 24/7 gym that would be permanently staffed and have its own separate entrance.

Mr Waugh added that new revenue streams to help turn around the centre, which had required annual subsidies of roughly £700,000 from the council to keep running, include virtual escape rooms, pool tables, and e-sports.

He also revealed longer-term ambitions to make laser tag, mini-golf, and ten-pin bowling part of the sprawling facility’s offer, expressing hope that it can become a family events hub that regularly stages large attractions.

Birtley Swimming Centre (Image: NCJ MEDIA)

Mr Waugh said: “The centre is huge. We need to make sure that every bit of the centre is an income stream.”

It is hoped that a £200,000 loan can be secured from Big Issue Invest to deliver the relaunch before 2023 ends, with plans for an initial opening on New Year’s Eve before the centre is fully back in use in January.

Matthew Grant also addressed Monday’s committee on the plans to get the Birtley Pool back in use by April next year, which are being driven by members of the Gateshead and Whickham Swimming Club and the Birtley Amateur Swimming Club.

Mr Grant outlined proposals to slash staffing costs by £250,000 by having multi-skilled employees who could work as both lifeguards and reception staff, for example.

The swimming clubs also plan to open the pool for longer and offer a broader range of activities than the council did, while also attracting more local schools and clubs to use the centre than previously. 

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A fundraiser to boost the asset transfer efforts has, at the time of writing, also raised £16,869 towards a £20,000 target – £8,000 of which is match funding from Sport England.

Mr Grant said at least £100,000 would have to be generated for a wide variety of new investments – including an inflatable obstacle course for the pool, removing the pool’s disused slide, new spin cycles, IT equipment, redecorating, and marketing.

He added that securing the pool’s future was vital to provide youngsters with life-saving swimming skills, adding: “Swimming is a fun activity for children, something families can do together. It can improve your health and physical fitness and is a great way to burn calories.

“It’s a great low-impact activity for people with disabilities or asthma and the elderly. Finally, swimming is still relatively a low-cost activity compared to going to the cinema or to the football, for example.”