A NEW gym provider has taken over the council's leisure facilities.

Sports and leisure operator, Everyone Active, has officially taken over the management of Somerset West and Taunton (SWT) Council’s leisure facilities from today (August 1).

The company has been awarded a contract by SWT for 10 years and eight months. Everyone Active will now manage the council’s five facilities; Blackbrook Leisure Centre and Spa; Wellsprings Leisure Centre; Wellington Sports Centre; Taunton Pool and Vivary Golf and Adventure Centre.

As part of the partnership, Everyone Active and SWT will invest more than £1.2 million to improve the range of facilities in the area.

Works have commenced today at Wellsprings Leisure Centre and will be staggered across the facilities to minimise disruption. Customers across all three gym facilities will benefit from new, state-of-the art, smart Technogym equipment, refurbished fitness studios and a range of aesthetic enhancements to improve the area’s leisure provision.

Everyone Active has more than 30 years’ experience of managing leisure facilities across the country and is the longest-established leisure operator in the UK. It prides itself on being a community-focused organisation that aims to get everyone active by doing at least 30 minutes of activity, five times a week.

Everyone Active will also be introducing its Sporting Champions scheme to the Somerset West and Taunton area. The talent development programme helps to support up-and-coming athletes with free access to its centres and funding to help with their training and competition costs.

David Greenwood, Everyone Active’s Area Contract Manager, said: “We’re delighted to be welcomed into the community to manage the local leisure facilities and officially begin our partnership with the Council, which is kicking off with some great improvements for our customers.

“Embarking on a new chapter with all colleagues from the centres is incredibly exciting for us, and we’re looking forward to them joining the Everyone Active family, as well as helping more people to improve their health and wellbeing by getting active.”

Cllr Richard Lees, SWT’s Executive Member for Sports, Parks and Leisure, said: “The Council is committed to providing first class sport and leisure facilities for everyone to enjoy. We want to ensure high levels of customer service in clean, well maintained facilities. Everyone Active has the proven ability to deliver these highly valued services and we look forward to building a long-standing partnership with them, encouraging more people to live healthier and active lifestyles.”

As part of the takeover, some of the facilities will be closed temporarily.

Wellsprings Leisure Centre will be getting a £387,000 upgrade during a 12-day closure from August 1.

Blackbrook Leisure Centre and Spa will be getting a £400,000 upgrade.

To allow for these works to take place the gym will closed for 10 days from August 19.

Wellington Sports Centre will see a £353,000 upgrade, so will be closed for 10 days from September 16.

For further information and the latest news on Everyone Active and our developments in Taunton, visit www.everyoneactive.com/tauntondevelopments.

The sports and leisure operator currently manages more than 190 leisure facilities across the UK, in partnership with more than 60 local authorities.