In late June, Fusion announced their plans to improve Frome Leisure Centre later this year with £2 million of investment. This first stage of investment will provide:

• New large state-of- the- art gym with all new equipment
• New pool changing area, and refurbished dry-side changing rooms
• New fitness studio and indoor cycling studio
• New soft play area and café upstairs
• New reception area

Fusion plan to close the Leisure Centre to the public (and school swimming) for 2 to 3 months in October – December to do the work. Frome Community College will retain access to the sports hall during term time. The work requires a minor planning application to be approved (for the reception area), Mendip’s landlord consent and further detailed design. I have been to several briefings recently and have pushed for public meetings to be arranged. The first public meeting was yesterday, Tuesday 30 June at 5pm at the Leisure Centre, when Fusion’s Francois Smit explained their plans and took questions. I attended for a little while and heard some support for Fusion’s plans and investment, as well as some concerns about the 2-3 month closure (from sports club organisers concerned about the impact on club membership), the impact on the indoor bowls club (who will have to move out due to the gym relocation), and that the improvements were too limited in scope (and the need for repairs to roof and boiler).  I will be asking for a report of the issues raised in the consultation period and how Fusion can respond to each point people have raised. Further similar meetings should be being held in July and August. Fusion are also due to speak at Frome Town Council’s next meeting on Wednesday 22^nd July. I understand that Fusion continue to discuss future arrangements with sports clubs and schools. Please see here for further details, and here to give feedback to Fusion by email. To have your say, please visit the websites above, pop into the Leisure Centre to look at the plan in reception and talk to staff there, and email sarah.cruwys@fusion-lifestyle.com.

Update 21 July 2015: An update on the planned improvements is available on Fusion’s website: see here for Mendip-wide questions, and here for a Frome Leisure Centre update. The main change is that Frome Leisure Centre will remain open to sports clubs in the evenings during the works this autumn.

I am asking Fusion to continue discussions with the Frome Indoor Bowls Club about relocation to another site. Further meetings will be held at the Leisure Centre in August and September, and Fusion will speak at Frome Town Council’s next meeting next Thursday 22nd July (7pm, at the Steiner Academy, Park Road). I have also been invited onto Frome Town Council’s Sports & Leisure Panel that meets in the autumn, to help join more dots.  My next meeting with Fusion and Mendip is on 6^th August. Please let me know if there are any concerns or issues for me to raise.

Please do let me know what you want to see happen here – email me on cllr.boyden@mendip.gov.uk, post comments here, or call me on 07809 284817. I sit on the MDC Leisure Partnership Board and am keeping an eye on things for Frome.

For more background info on this issue please see all my previous articles here, which give more background to the current work.