Sports centres back under in-house management

Two leisure centres have reopened under a new model of "in-house" management by the council that owns them.

The new sport and wellbeing service, Active North Yorkshire, will run the facilities in Tadcaster and Selby.

North Yorkshire Council eventually plans to use the same model for all of its sports centres, which were managed by five different operators under the former district council system.

The facilities would be called "active wellbeing hubs" and would have an emphasis on improving physical and mental health in their communities.

The council said services and classes would continue as before, but there would be additional activities offered and more support for local sport.

Councillor Simon Myers, the executive member for leisure, said the switch was an important milestone.

"We want to ensure leisure is accessible for everyone as we work to improve the health and wellbeing of our county," he added.

Centres in the former Hambleton and Craven council areas would be rebranded later in the autumn.

Facilities in Harrogate and Richmondshire would become part of Active North Yorkshire in spring 2025, and Ryedale and Scarborough would transition by 2027.

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