Archived on 6/5/2022

The Bridge to remain closed (during the pandemic)?

ForestHull

23 Oct '20

Grainne Cuffe reports for News Shopper that some leisure centres may not be reopening and re-confirms there is no date yet published for the ones that will reopen.

It looks like the older Bridge and possibly the Bellingham Leisure Centres are the ones where there are concerns about the cost of measures needed to safely re-open:

Some leisure centres in Lewisham may not reopen at all during the pandemic, the council has indicated.

In response to a councillor’s question ahead of full council on Wednesday (October 21), Mayor Damien Egan said there would have to be a balance between the cost of making the centres Covid-19 safety compliant and the council’s “ambition to provide an accessible leisure offer for all Lewisham residents”.

Last month, Lewisham announced that a phased reopening its leisure centres and swimming pools was set to begin in October.

It is expected that four leisure centres will open in the coming weeks, starting with Glass Mill, Forest Hill Pools, and Ladywell Arena in October, and Wavelengths in November.

The exact dates have not been released yet, though the council said it would publish them in early October.
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In a question submitted ahead of full council, Bellingham Councillor Alan Hall asked the mayor for an update “on the security and future” of the Bridge Leisure Centre.

At the meeting he asked a further question about security after receiving reports from residents of trespassing around the centre.

Mayor Damien Egan said GLL is in the process of assessing all leisure centres and that the council expects “to be a position to be more specific about plans for the other centres, including The Bridge, in November”.

“These assessments include a building condition survey and a review of the readiness to open under Covid-19 secure rules including, increased ventilation requirements.

“We are aware that our older facilities do not have the necessary modern air handling and ventilation systems, therefore more detailed survey work is required to ensure the facilities can meet the Covid-19 safety conditions,” he said.

Mayor Egan acknowledged the Bridge is “important to the many residents and groups”, but added that the financial challenges of reopening leisure centres “should not be underestimated”.

ForestHull

30 Oct '20

Some leisure centres are now announced to re-open, but the Bridge and Bellingham are not on the list:

ForestHull

4 Dec '20

There’s a further announcement that Forest Hill Pools are reopening in the New Year, Jan 4th 2021, but still nothing positive on the The Bridge & Bellingham:

anon3821395

6 Jan '21

Unfortunately:

Lewisham Council does not plan to reopen the Bridge Leisure Centre in Lower Sydenham once Covid-19 restrictions are eased.

It comes after a warning from the mayor of Lewisham in October that the cost of making the centre Covid-secure might be too great for the council to justify.

According to a report on leisure facilities going to mayor and cabinet next week (January 13), the Bridge was operating at a deficit of more than £400,000 for a long time before the pandemic.

“Through the term of the Fusion Lifestyle leisure contract the site required an annual subsidy of nearly £600,000 per annum with significant investment required in the building’s infrastructure.

“It is acknowledged that an element of the financial losses relate to the deterioration in the quality of the building and service standards in recent years but it is also clear that the site has been running at losses of over £400,000 for many years,” it states.

The council estimates that to reopen the site in 2021, the Bridge would need an annual subsidy of around £750,000 in revenue, around £450,000 for essential works, with a further £600,000 for works in the first few years of reopening.

The Bridge, located in Bellingham ward, has a 25 metre pool, a teaching pool, a gym, three studios, a three-court sports hall, four squash courts, saunas, two outdoor football pitches/cricket pitch and a small multi-use games area.

When leisure centres reopen, the loss of facilities is not expected to be fully met elsewhere in the borough due to Covid-19 restrictions.

But the council claims that after the restrictions are lifted demand could be met.

“Following analysis of the pre-Covid use of the Bridge and the alternative available provision in the vicinity it has been assessed that the vast majority of the demand generated by only closure of the site could be met by existing facilities – particularly when Covid restrictions are eventually lifted.

“The only area where there is a potential shortfall in alternatives is in the provision of sports hall facilities and it is important that officers work closely with schools and other institutions to ensure greater community access to existing infrastructure,” according to the report

The council intends to reopen the Indoor Bowls Centre beside the Bridge, as it expects the cost of doing so would be low.

A Lewisham council spokesperson said: “The national lockdown means that all leisure centres across London continue to be closed.

“Ongoing Coronavirus restrictions, have made customers wary to return to leisure centres and income across the leisure sector has been severely affected.

“Working closely with our leisure partner, GLL a phased reopening of leisure centres will continue when the Government determines it is safe to do so.

“It is anticipated Wavelengths, Forest Hill Pools, Glassmill, Ladywell Arena, Downham Health and Leisure as well as Bellingham Leisure Centre will be ready to open shortly after restrictions are eased.

“Due to financial pressures The Bridge Leisure Centre will not reopen in the short term.

“The Bridge lost nearly £600,000 last year, and the council is unable to continue funding the centre at this level.

“There are inherent problems with The Bridge due to the age and design of the building which will always present difficulties in the customer experience and the quality of services.

“Originally a private Sports and Social Club, its layout was not designed to be a public leisure centre .

“A recent condition survey has identified significant works are required to return The Bridge to acceptable standard of provision with further investment required for Covid-secure standards.

“These works are substantial and it is estimated that in the region of £450,000 in capital costs plus a further £600,000 is required over few years to maintain safe operations.

“A full review of leisure services in the Bellingham area will be considered as part of the council’s new Physical Activity Strategy to be shared for public consultation shortly.

“Detailed recommendations on the next steps for The Bridge are expected to be considered by the Council by autumn 2021.”

ForestHull

14 Jan '21

A further update, courtesy of Grainne Cuffe:

At a meeting last night (January 13) mayor and cabinet approved plans not to reopen the Bridge Leisure Centre in Lower Sydenham once Covid-19 restrictions are eased.

The decision came after a warning from the mayor of Lewisham in October that the cost of making the centre Covid-secure might be too great for the council to justify.

It is unclear when or if the centre will open again, but a review is expected later in the year.

Council figures show the Bridge was operating at a deficit of more than £400,000 per year for a long time before the pandemic, which surged to nearly £600,000 in recent years.

The council estimates that to reopen the site in 2021, the Bridge would need an annual subsidy of around £750,000 in revenue, around £450,000 for essential works, with a further £600,000 for works in the first few years of reopening.