FIVE leisure facilities in Somerset including Frome have been saved from permanent closure following a £215,000 rescue deal from Somerset Council.

Somerset Council is awarding an interim two-year contract to operate leisure centres in the East of Somerset, the former Mendip area, after the previous operator went into administration.

Fusion Lifestyle, operated facilities across Frome, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet, Street and Wells, and went into administration on April 1 after experiencing “significant financial difficulties”.

Interim operator Freedom Leisure, based in East Hoathly in East Sussex, currently runs leisure services in the south (Yeovil, Wincanton and Chard) and north (Bridgwater) of the county, and has been awarded the contract from July 1, 2026.

They will be responsible for the facilities including Frome Leisure Centre, Strode Swimming & Fitness (Street), Shepton Mallet Lido, Tor Sports & Leisure Centre at Glastonbury and Wells Leisure Centre.

The council provided £370,000 of funding to keep the five sites open for a further three months, while it raced to procure a new provider to run each of the facilities from early-July. The two-year interim contract is worth £214,594.

Council deputy leader Liz Leyshon (Street) said she was “delighted and relieved” by the announcement. She said: “The new operator already runs leisure services in Somerset, and the two year contract will ensure that we can keep the facilities open and protect the staff who have continued to work there through a very unsettling time.

“The experienced leisure operator will now undertake a comprehensive audit of all the facilities, and we will move towards awarding a new long-term contract from 2028.”

Cllr Federica Smith-Roberts, Somerset Council’s lead member for communities, added: “This is an interim contract which allows us to ensure these essential leisure services are provided by an established and trusted local operator, offering stability and quality assurance for schools, residents and other user groups.

“It means that membership, bookings and events can continue seamlessly. It will be very much business as usual.

“This also provides us with the opportunity to look in depth at the facilities before we embark on a more substantial tendering process in 2028 with a view to awarding a new long-term contract for leisure provision in East Somerset.”

CEO at Freedom Leisure, Ian Horsfall Turner, said: “We are delighted to have been selected by Somerset Council to operate these important leisure facilities and to continue providing high-quality health, wellbeing and physical activity opportunities for local communities across the Mendip area.

“Freedom Leisure already operates leisure facilities across Somerset, including sites in Yeovil, Wincanton, Chard and Bridgwater and we are proud of the positive impact our teams make in supporting local communities to become more active, healthier and better connected.

“As a not-for-profit leisure trust, our focus is on delivering excellent customer experiences while maximising social value and community benefit.

“We look forward to welcoming customers, supporting existing staff and working closely with Somerset Council, schools, clubs and community partners to ensure a smooth transition and the continued delivery of accessible, inclusive and high-quality leisure services across the East of Somerset.”