The facility has been closed since early December after Enfield Council brought in a new external provider to run its leisure centres

Enfield Council has been unable to provide a reopening date for Edmonton Leisure Centre nearly two months after it was “temporarily” closed.

The facility in Edmonton Green was closed along with four other council-owned leisure centres and swimming pools in the first week of December, when a new external provider was brought in to run them.

While Albany, Southbury and Southgate leisure centres, plus Arnos Pool, all reopened as planned on 7th December, Edmonton Leisure Centre remains closed.

A council spokesperson has now explained that when Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL) took over running Edmonton Leisure Centre, from previous operators Fusion, it discovered issues with the facility’s ventilation, pool plant and fire safety.

A spokesperson for Enfield Council said: “Enfield Council recently entered into partnership with Greenwich Leisure Ltd (trading as Better) who are the new operators of Enfield’s leisure centres. The new partnership undertook an immediate review of the state of the facilities and operations at each leisure centre to check they were fit for purpose and would allow for the provision of quality services for local people.

“A number of issues affecting the air handling unit, the pool plant and the fire safety system were identified at Edmonton Leisure Centre, alongside leaks from privately managed flats. These issues combined have prevented us reopening this centre.”

When the council announced in September it would be ending its long-running leisure centres contract with Fusion, it said the borough’s swimming pools in particular had experienced “a significant number of maintenance faults” while blaming financial difficulties at Fusion.

The council claimed there would be a “smooth and orderly handover” from Fusion to Better, but Edmonton Leisure Centre has now been closed for nearly two months with no reopening date set.

The council spokesperson added: “While we are undertaking further comprehensive risk and safety assessments at Edmonton Leisure Centre we have upgraded memberships for users, so they have access to the facilities at Albany, Southbury and Southgate leisure centres and Arnos pool, which all reopened as planned on 7th December 2023. We have also worked closely with all the local clubs and groups that use the facility to find them alternative provision.

“The council’s top priority is to ensure all our leisure centres provide a comfortable and safe environment for our residents to exercise and spend their leisure time.”

For the latest updates on Edmonton Leisure Centre:
Visit enfield.gov.uk/services/leisure-and-culture/leisure-centres-and-swimming-pools

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