🚨 Have your say on the future of Tides Leisure Centre! 🚨
Reverse Labour’s decision to shut down Tides Leisure Centre from April without notice or consultation.
This will leave local clubs and groups scrambling for alternatives. No plans were made to keep the tennis centre, gym, gymnastics or other spaces for hirers open temporarily, staff will now also face redundancy with little notice. Countless people rely on this facility from staff, self-employed instructors, and users alike—for employment, fitness, and community activities. We believe the Labour Cabinet could have kept facilities open until the new operator starts in Jan 2026. Instead they simply chose not to, with little thought for those affected by this decision, taken behind closed doors, not open to the public.
Cllr Trevor Bartlett, Leader of the Conservative Group Said;
”The Labour Cabinet’s baffling decision to shut down all facilities at Tides Leisure Centre from April—without proper notice to users—leaves local clubs, groups, and staff in turmoil. Gymnastics, tennis, and other community activities will now be scrambling to find alternative venues, with no clear plan from the administration.
No consideration was given to keeping the tennis centre open temporarily, and the staff now face redundancy only for a new operator to take over in January.
Despite the significant public impact, Labour has kept the details of their decision confidential—perhaps because revealing them would have exposed just how senseless it really is.
The Conservative Group calls for an urgent rethink to keep key facilities open and provide proper support for those affected.”
We believe this decision is wrong, and we’re calling for a rethink.
Tell us what you think in our Petition:
https://forms.office.com/e/sD37W9TY6F
It only takes a minute to share your views.
Please help us spread the word by sharing this petition and email with anyone you think would support this cause—schools, community groups, friends, family—everyone! The more voices we have, the stronger our message will be to keep Tides Leisure Centre open during the 9 month period until a new operator takes over and secure the facilities our community deserves.