Latest news with #NaomiTweddle
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Lincoln leisure centres expected to fully reopen in mid-July
Two Lincoln leisure centre which closed suddenly last month are expected to fully reopen by mid-July, a council has and Birchwood leisure centres in Lincoln closed on 3 April after Active Nation, the charity that ran them, ceased of Lincoln Council, which owned the buildings, said it had now appointed charitable social enterprise Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) as the interim operator for both facilities for a period of two operated more than 250 leisure centres in partnership with local authorities around the country, including in neighbouring North Kesteven. 'Proven capability' Council leader Naomi Tweddle said: "We are extremely pleased to confirm the appointment of GLL as our interim operator of these vital leisure centres."Their experience and proven capability will be essential in getting both Yarborough and Birchwood Leisure Centres back up and running for the community."Ms Tweddle also praised the Lincoln City Foundation - the charitable arm of Lincoln City Football Club - for "stepping in" to run outdoor facilities at both sites a week after the closures, as well as thanking residents for their patience "while we got this matter sorted". Chris Hebblewhite, director of standards and compliance at GLL, said they were working to reopen the facilities "as quickly and safely as we can"."We'll be reaching out to customers this summer providing further details on programmes, memberships and the lessons and courses that will be available," he said work would also be taking place to replace gym equipment and the "look" of the facilities, with job opportunities in fitness, customer services, lifeguarding and the time of the closures, Active Nation, a charity based in Warwickshire, blamed "the ongoing utility crisis and the challenges it has created" for the decision to cease council said it had offered the charity a support package of almost £500,000 over two years, with conditions attached, but this had not been taken up. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City leisure centres could reopen within months
Two Lincoln leisure centres could reopen within months after the local council voted to "urgently" appoint a new provider. Yarborough and Birchwood centres closed earlier this month after their operator, Active Nation, suddenly ceased trading. The City of Lincoln Council, which contracted the company to run the facilities, hopes to have them reopened by mid-July to coincide with the start of the school summer holidays. Speaking after an extraordinary council meeting earlier, leader councillor Naomi Tweddle said the authority was "working at rocket pace" to resolve the situation. Both gym members and sports clubs were left out of pocket after they were locked out of all the facilities as a result of the closure. Some outdoor facilities reopened at the weekend, but the council warned that the indoor ones, including the swimming pool and gym, would not reopen for about three months because of the time it would take to get a new contract in place. Tweedle said that was "significantly faster" than the usual process, which "normally takes between nine and 12 months". "There's then the issue of how quickly the new provider will be able to mobilise into the centres and we will do whatever we can to help that," she said. The new contract will be for two years, the longest allowed under the council's emergency procurement rules. The authority said it had already been approached by a number of potential contractors. Active Nation blamed rising energy costs and the cost of living for the closures. Last year, it reported a deficit of just over £1m in accounts submitted to the Charity Commission. The Commission said it had "opened a case to assess concerns about the governance and financial management of Active Nation Limited". The BBC has contacted Active Nation on several occasions. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Lincoln leisure centres to 'partially reopen' Watchdog looking into leisure centres closure Council offered support to reopen leisure centres Members fear for money as leisure centres close City of Lincoln Council
BBC News
15-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Yarborough and Birchwood leisure centres could reopen by mid-July
Two Lincoln leisure centres could reopen within months after the local council voted to "urgently" appoint a new and Birchwood centres closed earlier this month after their operator, Active Nation, suddenly ceased City of Lincoln Council, which contracted the company to run the facilities, hopes to have them reopened by mid-July to coincide with the start of the school summer after an extraordinary council meeting earlier, leader councillor Naomi Tweddle said the authority was "working at rocket pace" to resolve the situation. Both gym members and sports clubs were left out of pocket after they were locked out of all the facilities as a result of the outdoor facilities reopened at the weekend, but the council warned that the indoor ones, including the swimming pool and gym, would not reopen for about three months because of the time it would take to get a new contract in said that was "significantly faster" than the usual process, which "normally takes between nine and 12 months"."There's then the issue of how quickly the new provider will be able to mobilise into the centres and we will do whatever we can to help that," she new contract will be for two years, the longest allowed under the council's emergency procurement authority said it had already been approached by a number of potential contractors. Active Nation blamed rising energy costs and the cost of living for the year, it reported a deficit of just over £1m in accounts submitted to the Charity Commission said it had "opened a case to assess concerns about the governance and financial management of Active Nation Limited".The BBC has contacted Active Nation on several to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
05-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Lincoln councillors back return of Armed Forces Day event
A full Armed Forces Day event could return to Lincoln, the city council has of all parties expressed their support for the event at a meeting on Tuesday to recognise serving members and veterans.A Conservative proposal to allocate a budget of £15,000 towards exploring the scheme was rejected, but the council's leadership said it wanted to plan the event properly. Lincoln's previous Armed Forces Day event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic and has not been held since. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, councillors will meet with the organisers of the annual event in Cleethorpes, which is one of the largest in the leader Naomi Tweddle, who represents Labour, said: "These are exceptionally dangerous, worrying times."There are not many people in Lincoln not touched by the RAF or other armed forces in some way."She said she could not support the Conservative budget proposal because "it doesn't have partnership support in its current space".However, she added: "If we are going to do it, we will do it properly. Watch this space." 'Proud tradition' The nation's Armed Forces Day takes place on the last Saturday each the debate, concerns were raised over recent developments surrounding the war in councillor Hilton Spratt said: "We have a proud tradition of supporting the three armed forces, and it is particularly important at the moment."I hope to God that men and women will not be called upon to defend Britain and Europe in conflict on the mainland."Councillor Chris Burke, who will help lead cross-party work on an event, said: "We were already working with veteran communities before recent worrying events. "We would have liked a first-class day this year, but unfortunately started too late."Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
