Local backlash as Southwark Council gym fees set to rise by £144 a year

Gym-goers person expressed unease astatine planned £144 yearly increases to the outgo of a South London council’s memberships.

Leisure centre interest rises waved done by Southwark Council’s furniture successful the 2025/26 fund connected Tuesday (February 4) would spot rank prices emergence by implicit a third.

The terms of a wide monthly rank would summation from £31.99 to £43.99 per period nether the plans — a emergence of £144 implicit the year. Some gym-goers astatine the council’s Seven Islands Leisure Centre successful Rotherhithe, South London said the ostentation busting interest hikes would marque them see switching gyms, erstwhile asked by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) connected Thursday (February 6).

Vanessa, 62, who declined to springiness her surname, said: “I’ve been coming present for 8 years, but the summation is simply a immense magnitude of money. I deliberation I mightiness alteration my rank erstwhile it comes into place. It’s excessively much. I deliberation the emergence is going to halt a batch of radical utilizing the gyms and coming to the centres. We’ve got the parkland [Southwark Park] astir the country and I deliberation radical volition conscionable usage that.”

Luana, 48, who preferred not to springiness her surname, added: “If determination was thing better, I would spell there. I deliberation if the prices spell up, they should truly amended the gyms here. The authorities of the gyms is shameful and I person complained galore times. There were flies successful the women’s changing rooms astatine 1 point. They should marque definite the classes are not overcrowded too.”

But Simon Treacy, 37, said that the leisure centre would inactive stay cheaper than alternatives successful the country contempt the terms rise. He said: “The different options astir present are backstage and they are precise expensive. Relative to backstage membership, I inactive deliberation it’s a bully deal. I would alternatively my fees spell to the assembly alternatively than immoderate ample corporation.”

Mr Treacy, who said helium visited Seven Islands erstwhile oregon doubly a week, added: “It’s tricky. I tin spend it truthful I wouldn’t caput paying £40 oregon truthful a month. But I cognize there’s a batch of radical present for whom that’s a large summation and they would consciousness it.”

Another gym-goer, who declined to springiness his name, said helium thought the opening of the adjacent Canada Water Leisure Centre successful outpouring would marque the council’s rank terms emergence worthy it. The caller gym and pool, which is nearing completion, volition regenerate Seven Islands arsenic the section area’s leisure centre erstwhile it opens. The Southwark Council centre volition see a gym with 150 pieces of equipment, 2 swimming pools, 3 fittingness studios, and a sports hall.

Councillor Portia Mwangangye, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Parks and Young People, said: “We are committed to providing high-quality, accessible leisure facilities that beforehand wellness and wellbeing. Our centres connection large value, ensuring affordability and inclusivity for all.

“Our leisure work is built connected the extremity of providing a nationalist wellness work that prioritises our susceptible residents. That’s wherefore we proceed to connection Free Swim and Gym, targeted escaped sessions for over-60s, and discounts for students, veterans, and exigency work workers.

“The caller rank interest summation reflects our important concern successful maintaining these targeted programs and backing the refurbishment of each gyms. We recognise the value of a clean, safe, and welcoming environment, which is wherefore we are addressing cleanliness and overcrowding portion continuing to put successful our facilities.”