A new deal has been struck to allow users of Fulwood Leisure Centre to use the car park and sports hall at Fulwood Academy.
Preston City Council is putting pen to paper on a five year agreement with the Academy for the use of parking spaces and the sports hall.
Council officials have been anxious to complete the agreement, as the loss of parking spaces and use of the facilities could leave a £254,000 black hole in the council’s leisure budget.
City council director of community and business services, Jimmy Khan, in a report to the man in charge of the council’s finances, councillor Martyn Rawlison, outlined the case for the agreement.
He said: “In order of the leisure centre customers to have access to the sports hall it has been necessary for the Council to have an agreement in place with the Academy.”
Currently the council was operating under a “gentlemen’s agreement” with the Academy due to major redevelopment work ongoing at the school.
Mr Khan explains if the parking, which is already an issue at peak times at Fulwood Leisure Centre, were to be withdrawn he predicts £14,000 would be lost in cancelled memberships in the first year.
Councillor Rawlinson has now signed off a £60,000 contribution from the city council towards a refurb of the sports hall, which totals £180,000.
The agreement is expected to come into force on Friday 4 October if it is not called in for debate by other councillors.
View the full decision documents on the council website.
Do you use the leisure centre? What do you think? Have you had issues parking? Let us know in the comments below