Mayor Tom Wootton and Bedford’s Conservative Councillors have bold ambitions for the Borough’s leisure facilities, with plans for a state-of-the-art Leisure Village in the centre of Bedford. A greatly enhanced leisure suite will help to ensure we all have the opportunity to live happier, healthier and more prosperous lives.

This initiative will being tremendous health and wellbeing benefits to residents of the Borough, however Councillors felt that now was not the right time to include it in the Capital Programme, it is at a very early a stage of development, with a very busy programme of enhancements and improvements already taking place within the exiting leisure suite.

Councillors have asked for a detailed feasibility study and comprehensive business case to support this initiative and that’s exactly what the new Conservative Administration will be getting done. We will be conducting full feasibility, design and technical studies to ensure that the project gets strong backing both locally from residents and in Council.

Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture, Councillor Sarah Gallagher commented:

“It has been a busy year for the Council and for Bedford Borough’s Leisure Centres with plenty of positive news for Bedford Borough residents.

On 18th December 2023, the Council agreed to release £3.95 million to fund essential maintenance and health and safety works at our exiting leisure facilities to get them back in good order. At the start of February our leisure sites have moved over to our new operator, the charitable social enterprise Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL).

While the health benefits of high-quality leisure and sports facilities are well known, it is important we set realistic and prudent expectations and communicate these goals to Borough residents.

The Conservative Group remains committed to the Leisure Village, so the proposal needs a sound and robust business case and that is exactly what we will develop and bring back the Council later in the year.”