Greenwich Leisure appointed by Hackney Council

Hackney Council has appointed Greenwich Leisure to manage its leisure facilities after ending its contract with Leisure Connection.

Greenwich Leisure will manage the Kings Hall and Britannia Leisure Centres, Queensbridge Sports Centre, the West Reservoir sailing and water sports centre and Clissold Leisure Centre on an interim basis for 18 months.

Clissold is currently closed for repair works but is scheduled for reopening in summer 2006.

From next year the portfolio will also include the London Fields Lido, which is set to reopen in April 2006 following a complete refurbishment.

The decision to award the interim contract to GLL came after a full options appraisal process was undertaken by the council. GLL will take over interim management of the centres on 15 September 2005.

Hackney Council's elected Mayor, Jules Pipe, said: "I am delighted to welcome GLL as our interim leisure contractor.

"We will work with them to ensure that the handover is as smooth as possible, and that local services are not disrupted by the change. We will be communicating with all staff, users and leisure centre members to make sure that they are kept fully informed."

GLL also currently operates in the four other Olympic host boroughs of Newham, Waltham Forest, Greenwich and Tower Hamlets.

In July, Hackney Council announced that it had come to a mutual agreement to end its partnership with Leisure Connection, just three years into a 15-year contract.