LIME Kiln Leisure Centre in Royal Wootton Bassett will be transferred back into the hands of Wiltshire Council in 2018 after officials announced that they will not be renewing their contract with Places for People Leisure Ltd.

At last week’s cabinet meeting, councillors agreed that come April 1, 2018, leisure centres will move back into the control of the council to help them in their rollout of the campus scheme across the county as well as save management costs in excess of £500,000.

Places for People were first awarded the contract back in 2001 - previously DC Leisure Management - to run 11 of the 23 council leisure centres across Wiltshire. Since then, their contract has been extended three times.

In a briefing note sent out to councillors, Wiltshire Council said: “In making this decision, the cabinet has taken into consideration the wider campus programme and Wiltshire's approach to improving the health and wellbeing of the population.

“The council has identified a need to move towards a different county-wide emphasis on health and wellbeing, with leisure services transitioning to a wider health and wellbeing service.

“This will require increased general access to physical activity in council facilities, whilst providing targeted programmes such as GP referral schemes and health trainers, as well as wider sports and physical activities for all ages in communities.”

Jonathon Seed, cabinet member for leisure, has reassured people that despite historical concerns about the loss of centres, the transition of control will not mean any will be lost.

He added: This is a management decision and nothing will change. There are no plans to make any changes to the leisure centre and in the long term it will allow Wiltshire Council to save quite a lot of money.

“We are committed to health and wellbeing and it gives us the opportunity to provide services and benefits in the most cost-effective and efficient way without making any changes to what people see.”

It is expected that staff employed by Places for People Leisure Ltd will transfer to the council under TUPE arrangements.

A Wiltshire Council spokesman added: “The partnership between Wiltshire Council and Places for People Leisure has worked extremely well since 2001, and we are confident the service will continue to be delivered to a high standard while in transition to the new management arrangements.”