Olympiad user claims Chippenham leisure centre in 'decline'

Adrian Beeby, a Kington Langley resident who regularly uses the Olympiad Leisure Centre in Chippenham, believes the facility has deteriorated in the last year.

This comes after Cllr Nick Murray called for more investment into the building in Monkton Park last year.

At the time he labelled the facility “run down” and Mr Beeby claims the issue has worsened over the last year.

He said: “The bad news is that, in that year, there have been no improvements, only further deterioration.

“In the gym which I used two to three times a week, broken equipment is being removed; treadmills bear out-of-order signs and most of the eight television screens have ceased to function.

“Ask staff about these issues, and they reply that they're waiting for Wiltshire Council to take action, but no date for that action is forthcoming.”

The Olympiad (Image: Trevor Porter)

Mr Beeby fears that the leisure centre will begin to “haemorrhage” users if positive changes are not introduced soon.

He added: “Today, Chippenham is much better served by gyms than 10 years ago.

“There are alternatives to the Olympiad and the longer it takes Wiltshire Council to address the decline of its leisure centre, the more attractive those alternatives appear.

“I'm a firm supporter of public leisure facilities and I appreciate that local government funding has been squeezed but unless the council acts, it will haemorrhage Olympiad users -- and that can only be detrimental to the council's already overstretched finances.”

Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, cabinet member for leisure, says the Olympiad will be included in the council’s improvement scheme benefitting facilities across Wiltshire.

Plans for these works will be revealed soon, after details on investment for leisure centres in Marlborough, Devizes, Warminster, and other towns were confirmed.

The Olympiad (Image: Trevor Porter)

Cllr Blair-Pilling said: “We are investing significantly in fitness facilities at leisure centres across the county.

“We are planning improvements at Olympiad Leisure Centre and will be providing details along with timescales, in the coming weeks. 

“As a local authority, we have a responsibility to ensure the leisure services we provide focus on meeting the health needs of our communities while keeping facilities sustainable and affordable for all.

"While other authorities across the country are closing leisure facilities, we are bucking the national trend and investing to maintain and improve facilities for our residents."