Everton Park and Park Road Lifestyles centres could yet be taken out of council control
Everton Park Lifestyles Sports and Fitness Centre Great Homer Street Liverpool(Image: )
Liverpool Council needs to provide answers over the future of two of its leisure centres it said it wanted to get off its books more than two years ago. That is the view of opposition leaders as a decision is yet to be made over the future of Everton Park and Park Road Lifestyles sites.
Since December 2023, both locations have been subject to discussions with potential operators to take them on. In November 2023, Cllr Harry Doyle, Liverpool Council cabinet member for health, wellbeing and culture, admitted the authority can no longer afford to run all of its eight indoor facilities amid continuing financial pressures.
A number of locations are in a poor condition and said to be “reaching the end of their operational life.” This includes Everton Park – which dates back to its roots as a Victorian wash house in 1884 – and Park Road in Toxteth.
In October last year, local authority officials said some of its “ageing” leisure centres “risk falling behind” without action and investment. According to a strategy for leisure services, around half of Liverpool’s sites are more than 30 years old and in need of an upgrade.
Officials have warned that without action, the “visible and valuable” services face an increased risk of closure and a reduction in access for those who need them most. That strategy outlined how the city’s leisure services stand “at a crossroads.”
However, no updates have been given on the future of the sites in Everton and Toxteth since October last year when the city council reiterated they were not closing. The council held detailed discussions with the City of Liverpool Gymnastics Foundation and St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust.
These conversations identified the best means to secure the future of the centres on a sustainable basis. For Everton Park, a long-lease agreement was being explored.
This would allow the Academy Trust to operate the centre while maintaining public access. Some maintenance work was undertaken on the building’s roof to prepare it for future use.
At Park Road, a new model is taking shape and plans are being developed for a multi-partner sports hub, including its role as a national centre of best practice in gymnastics. In March 2023, Liverpool Council agreed to implement a budget saving for leisure centres of £250,000 and a further £1.8m up to this year.
If the transfers go ahead, staff from both sites would be relocated to one of the council’s Lifestyles fitness centres, including the refurbished Peter Lloyd site. However, when approached by the ECHO, the city council said it was unable to provide any update or official comment on the process to date.
Cllr Carl Cashman, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said residents needed answers from officials. He said: “Right from the start, Labour’s plan to give away these leisure centres has been a complete farce.
“Residents don’t know what’s happening. The staff don’t know what’s happening.
“I don’t even think the council knows what’s happening. I can’t think of any other words than utterly embarrassing.
“Harry Doyle, the cabinet member for closures, has gone to ground over the issue. Residents would be completely in the dark if it wasn’t for Kevin Robinson-Hale in Everton fighting for answers.’
“For the sake of residents in Everton and Liverpool 8, the council needs to come clean and tell them what’s happening.”