A NEW provider has been announced for the leisure and cultural facilities across the Cotswold District.

Freedom Leisure will take over three leisure centres and the Corinium Museum from current provider SLM Everyone Active from Tuesday, August 1.

Freedom Leisure is a leading charitable and not-for-profit leisure trust which manages over 100 leisure and cultural facilities across England and Wales.

The three centres they have now added to their portfolio are in Bourton, Chipping Campden and Cirencester.

Cllr Paul Hodgkinson, cabinet member for Health, Leisure and Culture, said: “After a very thorough procurement process we are pleased to say Freedom Leisure will be the new provider for our leisure centres and the Corinium Museum.

“The health and wellbeing of our residents is a top priority so it was important to make sure we picked the best operator for our leisure and cultural services.

"We are very much looking forward to working with Freedom Leisure."

Disruption is hoped to be kept to a minimum whilst the change of ownership takes place.

Details of the current members of these leisure centres will be provided to Freedom Leisure as part of the transfer process, all members will still be able to access all the facilities included in your membership.

All lessons and classes will carry on running as usual.

Ivan Horsfall Turner, Freedom Leisure CEO, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded both the leisure and cultural contracts and are excited to get started in the Cotswolds.

"Our vision is to ‘improve lives through leisure’ and we very much look forward to working with our new colleagues at these vitally important local amenities.

“We have committed to a number of projects which we believe will not only improve the facilities and services on offer but also have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of the local community.”