Campaign begins to save Kingsdown Sports Centre

A petition has been started in an attempt to save Kingsdown Sports Centre from being closed by Bristol City Council.

The two councillors for Cotham ward in which the sports centre on Portland Street is located say that the decision to close the sports centre “has been made without the local community or elected councillors for the area having any opportunity to make the case for the council to save Kingsdown Sports Centre. This is unacceptable.”

Green Party councillors Guy Poultney and Mohamed Makawi have started a petition which has so far been signed by more than 370 people.

Poultney and Makawi say: “As with all leisure facilities, the sports centre suffered a drop in membership during the Covid-19 pandemic, but membership numbers have been steadily increasing since lockdown restrictions eased.

“This temporary drop in usage should be not used as an excuse for the council to dispose of a much-loved and well-used community asset.”

They add: “The community around the Kingsdown Sports Centre and elected councillors for Cotham are objecting to mayor Marvin Rees’ decision to close the sports centre, and will campaign against any attempt to dispose of this community asset, and any attempt to sell the site for development.”

Kingsdown Sports Centre’s proximity to the University of Bristol’s gym is one of the reasons behind its proposed closure – photo: Martin Booth

The launch of the petition comes as a consultation on Bristol’s draft Leisure Facilities Investment Strategy has opened.

Kingsdown Sports Centre is one of nine leisure centre and swimming pools that Bristol City Council own, with the council itself saying that some of these are “tired and ageing facilities that have increasing maintenance costs and do not meet the full expectations and needs of Bristol’s residents”.

The council’s approach sets out potential investment in Horfield Leisure Centre, Easton Leisure Centre and South Bristol Pool.

Initial proposals are to cease to operate Jubilee Swimming Pool in Knowle and Kingsdown Sports Centre, which “requires an annual revenue subsidy from the council and contributes less towards the council’s strategic outcomes for sport and physical activity”.

If the city council stop operating Jubilee Pool and Kingsdown Sports Centre, they could be transferred to another commercial operator or run by the community under a Community Asset Transfer, but if this does not happen they will both likely close.

Bristol mayor Marvin Rees said: “Our proposed strategy is based on investing in leisure facilities that are in areas of deprivation, supporting our One City aims to reach priority communities and support people to lead healthier, more active lives, so that we can reduce health inequalities and increase activity.

“There is only a limited amount of money available to us, and we need to ensure we are investing in the sites that both meet our strategic aims and are sustainable in the long-term.

“By spending the money now, we can make council leisure provision in Bristol fit for the future.”

Main photo: Martin Booth

Read more: Sports centre could be closed to save council money

Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast: