Title: Babergh District Council Have Approved 4 Million Investment Into Local Leisure

Media Release

Date: 22nd February 2018

Title: Babergh District Council have approved £4 million investment into local leisure facilities.

Babergh District Council are delighted to announce that £4million will be invested into two local leisure facilities managed by South Suffolk Leisure.

South Suffolk Leisure Trust was formed in 2006 to manage the Kingfisher Leisure Centre and Hadleigh Swimming Pool. The Charitable Trust now operates six facilities across Babergh District Council. The Trust will fund two major development projects which will both be subject to planning approval later this spring.

The Kingfisher Leisure Centre project will include a full refurbishment of wet and dry changing rooms, along with a two story extension that will include a dance studio and community facility. The health and wellbeing centre will more than double in size increasing from 40 pieces of equipment to 100. Work will take placed in a phased approach and commence this autumn. The aim will to have all works completed by September 2019.

At Hadleigh Pool & Leisure will are looking to replace the forty seven year old swimming pool and include an accessible sauna and steam room in the facility mix. Work will take place from Winter 2018 with an aim to opening to the public in Winter 2019. The current swimming pool will stay open for the duration of works.

Cllr John Ward, Leader of Babergh District Council said,“We are delighted to be injecting such a significant sum of money into refurbishing two of our leisure centres. This investment will help to create state of art facilities that everyone in our communities can use and enjoy. Helping and encouraging people to be more active and improve their quality of life is a key priority for us and in agreeing to finance these improvements we are getting closer to achieving that aim.”

Approval to make these investments happen clearly demonstrate our commitment to the health and wellbeing of our community.

Hadleigh Town Council said; “it has always been our aspiration to see the swimming pool in Hadleigh replaced. We are making a significant contribution to make this happen. Money was collected door to door to build the original pool and a preceptwas added to our council tax in 2005. These funds will now be used to contribute to the costs of replacing the pool.”

South Suffolk Leisure Chairman Tim Mutum said: “this is largest investment that the Trust has ever committed to. The latest Government strategy, DCMS Sporting Future, aims to tackle head on the flat lining levels of sport participation and high levels of inactivity in the country. We need facilities that are fit for purpose. These projects will bring both local authority owned centres up to an amazing standard.

For more information on South Suffolk Leisure, visit our website at

Images available on request.