Energy Bills Force Closure of Rye Swimming Pool
Rye Sports Centre’s swimming pool is set to close from November 1 due to skyrocketing energy costs. Freedom Leisure, the pool’s operator, blames soaring bills as the reason behind the tough call, as households and businesses across the UK face tight budgets and rising expenses.
Energy Costs Soar From £8m to £20m
Freedom Leisure revealed their energy bills have jumped from £8 million to a staggering £20 million annually. This sharp increase comes despite government support measures like temporary energy price caps. As a not-for-profit organisation, Freedom Leisure struggles to absorb these costs without drastic action.
“We make very low surpluses,” they said. “These increases mean difficult decisions have to be made, just as families are tightening their belts across the UK. Unfortunately, this is the biggest challenge our sector has ever faced.”
Swimming Pool Closure Will Hurt Local Community
The pool will close for the winter, with a reopening review planned for early spring based on future government support and energy market changes. The decision affects many locals who rely on the pool for health and wellbeing.
Freedom Leisure stated: “The cost to maintain the Rye pool is £92,000 a year, which we simply cannot cover. We are deeply sorry to those affected but there is no alternative.”
CEO Sounds Alarm Over Leisure Services
CEO Ivan Horsfall-Turner expressed deep disappointment: “This situation goes against our mission to improve lives through leisure. But these uncontrollable circumstances force us to close the pool to safeguard wider community services for the future.”
