Leisure groups to merge
- 5 September 2012 11:58190106Just seen a "tweet" from the Dover Mercury Twitter account which says Vista Leisure and Thanet Leisure Force are due to merge and become "Your Leisure". An interesting move.
- 5 September 2012 15:17190126Thanks for letting us know Jim. Interesting. Kyle might be on later and will know more..if he is able to speak about it will let us know more I'm sure.
email: dover7@msn.com - Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
5 September 2012 15:20190127sounds like down sizeing to me.but looking on the bright side of life i could go swimming in the town hall.
- 5 September 2012 16:42190137Oh I do wish this means only good things for Dover gym, it's falling to pieces. You do NOT get what you pay for there.
Keeps politics to myself - 5 September 2012 16:53190140I think the gym at Dover Leisure Centre is good. Yes, in an ideal world it could do with some investment but in many respects we are lucky to have such a centre in the town, rather than on some remote industrial or retail park which is where many of the private gyms have migrated to.
- 5 September 2012 17:06190143Statement from Vista Leisure:
We are happy to confirm that Vista Leisure and Thanet Leisureforce have now formally agreed to merge; with a completion date set for 31st March 2013. The new name of the company is 'Your Leisure'.
Your Leisure will offer a range of facilities and services including sport, health and fitness, hospitality and entertainment and community projects.
Kevin Fordham, Vista Leisure Chief Executive says "We believe that the new company brings together two organisations with specific strengths to deliver benefits for its customers, employees and the local communities".
More information will be available in the near future. - 5 September 2012 17:10190144Helen, the gym at Dover Leisure Centre was recently redecorated, it's actually a nice environment these days.
Granted the building is old, we know that. I personally feel that the team here do their best to ensure customers get results and generally have clean and safe facilities.
The common mis-conception here is that decor or ageing facilities is often mistaken and labelled as filthy.
I use the gym, sauna/steam rooms and some workout classes.
EDIT: £34.40 a month which is the maximum priced membership is more than great value for money, when compared with other facilities that do not have swimming pools, sauna and steam facilties etc... some places charge £30 a month for gym only! :-) - 5 September 2012 18:51190159Kyle F. While I know it is for you to defend Dover Leisure Centre let me make my point a bit more underatandable, I believe we have had this debate before and I know the gym cannot help they way it is because of funding.
Let me start by saying that the staff are fantastic and make the gym what it is. If it was not for them I would not keep using it.
What I disagree with is that first the funding for the parking was pulled (agian not the gyms fault) Then my Membership was hiked by almost 7 pounds a month (a huge increase) and I still have to pay to use a locker on top of that.
My main point is value for money. Yes I know we have to make do with what we have because of funding but why does Dover have to settle for second best all the time? That gym could be fantastic with a huge investment and I would pay more for the facility if it was worth it.
I have used many gyms up and down the country. Most recently a Nuffield chain in Crawley. This place made Dover Leisure Centre look like a gym in someone's shed (again I know not Dover's fault). My point is that this private company offered everything and much more for just £10 more a Month which I would pay for...and free parking/lockers. These private companies are attracting the gym
Memberships and I believe Dover would benefit from one. I just wish I was given the choice.
I would of course rather support Dover leisure centre with my membership and see that thrive from continued support. However, if a place like the one I have described came to Dover I would not hesitate to change.Keeps politics to myself - 6 September 2012 09:30190241I understand your point, I personally would love Dover to have it's very own K2 (also in Crawley) sized leisure facility.
There are development plans currently being discussed between Vista Leisure & DDC for Dover Leisure Centre, if this goes ahead it would see a new gym, 2 new workout studios, spin studio/area and some other new facilties bundled in for good measure. Whilst this is not going to happen over night... it shows commitment from both DDC & Vista (Your Leisure). - 6 September 2012 10:52190256Around five years ago a group of Officers and members visited the K2 Centre at Crawley .We all came back with visions for Dover however not everything goes plan We need a lot of money for that kind of investment .
- 6 September 2012 11:06190268comes back to catchment area, crawley and the surrounding area is growing all the time.
- 6 September 2012 13:21190306I spend a lot of time in Crawley and have been to most of the gyms there: K2, Nuffield, Virgin Active. All state of the art facilities that attract the younger generation of people, most of whom work at the airport. Dover does not need to be so state of the art, just to offer the faculties that you would expect from gyms these days. More up to date gym equpiment, better range of classes such as Spin class as Kyle pointed out above.
My fingers remain crossed that this merger can only benefit Dover Leisure Centre. About time councils started to encourage their towns to get fit. They could start by making the car park free again. It will at least get people to put their foot in the doorKeeps politics to myself - 6 September 2012 14:15190310i don't see free parking coming back helen, councils are scratching around for as much revenue as they can get to help lessen the shortfall of income from central government.
