Bosses at a sports centre in Bristol have agreed to offer cheaper charges for people who live locally, as well as a free pitch hire twice a week, after a campaign by local residents to get more from their local sports centre.
The Lockleaze Sports Centre is one of Bristol’s newest, after it opened in 2018. But the local branch of community union ACORN began a campaign to get it to connect more with people living on the estate - which is one of the more economically-deprived parts of the city - rather than act as a leisure centre for people from across north Bristol.
At a public meeting this week, centre bosses said they were keen to open up the facility to more local people, and announced a package of measures designed to do just that.
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The state of the facility will be offering a 30 per cent discount on room hire to anyone living in the Lockleaze ward, as well as a quarter-size pitch for free, twice a week in off peak times.
The centre is also offering to host a large community event free of charge up to twice a year for any group that wants to organise one, and they also made a commitment to get more connected with the local community via the Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust, in a bid to make the facilities more accessible for locals.
“We’re pleased with the progress on this campaign,” said Adrian Andrew, from ACORN. “I hope Lockleaze Sports Centre continues to focus more on the needs of the local community by providing and publicising activities that are appropriate and affordable to the Lockleaze Community.
“Residents acknowledged that this is good progress, but there is room for more efforts to include local people. Questions which were raised on Tuesday, including the possibility of local rates on pitch hire and assurance that publicity would include the offer itself,” he added.
“Back in spring, members of the community union ACORN in Lockleaze decided to approach Lockleaze Sports Centre due to feelings that the charity could be doing more for local people. With hundreds of new homes being built in the ward, it is concerning that the area lacks community facilities and has neither a pub nor a youth club. We met with the Sports
Centre’s management in May to negotiate introducing a local discount, free of charge sessions, a community day and further publicity,” he said.
