The future of six Swindon leisure centres has been secured for the next 15 years and an investment of more than £1.4 million has also been agreed for two of these centre's.

The council’s cabinet has agreed to remove mutual break clauses in the contract with GLL, the company that manages these centres, ensuring their leases will now run until October 31, 2039.

Previously, both parties could have opted to terminate the leases on October 31, 2028.

The decision guarantees GLL, which operates under the Better brand, will continue to manage the Link Centre, Croft Leisure Centre, Delta Tennis Centre, Dorcan Recreation Centre, Haydon Wick Leisure Centre, and the Health Hydro for the next 15 years.

The council hopes this will provide GLL with long-term certainty and the confidence to continue investing in the buildings it operates.

Councillor Marina Strinkovsky, Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for placemaking and planning, said: "We’ve been working really closely with GLL since last year on a number of social value initiatives to benefit local residents.

"We were therefore really keen to solidify that partnership by removing the break clauses in the leases for our six leisure centres, which will allow GLL to invest with confidence in the facilities it operates.

“GLL has really stepped up to support some of our most vulnerable residents at a time when people are finding it tough with the cost of living crisis. We look forward to continuing our work with them to build a fairer Swindon over the coming years.”

Councillors have also approved additional funding for two major leisure facilities in the borough.

A sum of £115,000 will be spent on the ongoing refurbishment of the Health Hydro, while an extra £1.3 million will go towards a larger package of improvements at the Link Centre.

The council, in collaboration with GLL, has already replaced the Link Centre’s ice rink, which was damaged by flooding last September, at a cost of £375,000.

This has significantly reduced the centre's electricity consumption, energy costs, and carbon emissions.

GLL has launched a range of initiatives to benefit residents, such as a free Residents’ Card, which provides a membership with 10 per cent off activities and a Pay as you Go concessionary membership card.

It has also introduced a ‘Kids in Care’ membership, providing children in care with a free membership, while young adults aged up to 25 who have been in care can also access a special membership.