Gateshead leisure centre closures: Which sites are…

Gateshead leisure centre closures: Which sites are most popular and what they are costing

The best-used leisure centre in Gateshead could be lost if efforts to save it from closure are unsuccessful.

Gateshead Leisure Centre gets more than 285,000 visits every year, but the massive facility’s big running costs and repair bills mean it has been deemed among the “least sustainable” sites at risk of being shut down under council budget cuts. More than 200,000 people also go through the doors of Dunston Leisure Centre each year, the other centre that has been judged to be under the greatest threat.

Civic centre officials have warned that at least two of their sites will have to be closed, with the cash-strapped local authority saying its leisure services are “unaffordable” in their current form. A public consultation on the controversial plans is due to shut next Tuesday, December 20, before a final decision is made in January about which centres will face the axe or whether they can be salvaged.

Here are the key facts and figures about the six council-run leisure centres, excluding Gateshead Stadium, whose futures are in doubt.

Gateshead Leisure Centre

Facilities: Three swimming pools, learn to swim lessons, aquafit, a gym, fitness classes, squash court, sports hall, sauna, steam room, clip 'n' climb (currently not in use), soft play, Changing Places toilets, car charging points and room/studio hire.
Year built: 1935, refurbished in 1975 and 2009
Level of council subsidy required in 2022/23: £684,000
Maintenance costs over next 10 years: £9.1m
Visits per year: 285,020
Next nearest public leisure centre: Heworth (2.3 miles)

Dunston Leisure Centre

Facilities: Two swimming pools (including one deep pool), aquafit, learn to swim lessons, sauna and steam room, squash courts (currently not in use), gym, fitness classes, Changing Places toilets, car charging points and room hire.
Year built: 1963, extended in 1975 and refurbished in 2010
Level of council subsidy required in 2022/23: £557,000
Maintenance costs over next 10 years: £1.3m
Visits per year: 210,182
Next nearest public leisure centre: Blaydon (2.3 miles)

Heworth Leisure Centre

Facilities: Two swimming pools, splash pool, aquafit, learn to swim lessons, FlowRider (currently out of service), gym and fitness classes, grass pitch, room hire, car charging points (currently not in use) and Changing Places toilets.
Year built: 2010
Level of council subsidy required in 2022/23: £643,000
Maintenance costs over next 10 years: £764,000
Visits per year: 84,852
Next nearest public leisure centre: Gateshead (2.3 miles)

Birtley Leisure Centre

Facilities: Gym, fitness classes, sports hall, sauna, room hire and car charging points.
Year built: 1950, extended in 1994
Level of council subsidy required in 2022/23: £366,000
Maintenance costs over next 10 years: £832,000
Visits per year: 12,952
Next nearest public leisure centre: Chester-le-Street (2.4 miles).

Birtley Swimming Centre

Facilities: Three swimming pools, water slide, aquafit, learn to swim lessons, Changing Places toilet and room hire.
Year built: 1972
Level of council subsidy required in 2022/23: £593,000
Maintenance costs over next 10 years: £953,000
Visits per year: 50,770
Next nearest public leisure centre: Chester-le-Street (2.4 miles).

Blaydon Leisure Centre

Facilities: Two swimming pools, aquafit, learn to swim lessons, a gym, fitness classes, athletics track, 3G sports pitch, two grass pitches, Changing Places toilets, car charging points and room hire.
Year built: 2010
Level of council subsidy required in 2022/23: £541,000
Maintenance costs over next 10 years: £100,000
Visits per year: 215,115.
Next nearest public leisure centre: Dunston (2.3 miles).

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