Council to review borough's leisure provision as Tottenham Green Pools remains closed

Council working with external provider Fusion to improve leisure facilities amid ongoing problems, reports Simon Allin, Local Democracy Reporter

Haringey Council will carry out a review of the borough’s leisure provision after its two main sports centres were hit by a string of problems.

The move comes as the swimming pools at Tottenham Green Pools and Fitness remain closed more than six months after the centre’s plant room was flooded by sewage, knocking out the electrical systems.

Swimming pools at the borough’s other main sports centre, Park Road Pools and Fitness in Crouch End, also underwent periods of temporary closure earlier this year.

Both centres are owned by the council and run by leisure provider Fusion Lifestyle under a 20-year deal agreed in 2012. A phased reopening of facilities at Tottenham Green Pools and Fitness began in April, but a date for the reopening of the pools has yet to be confirmed.

The council says it is working with Fusion “on how leisure services can be delivered in a different way in the future”.

A council report says that after insourcing New River Sport and Fitness in White Hart Lane from Fusion in 2021, the authority has “delivered better and inclusive services whilst increasing the financial viability of the centre”.

It adds: “With the swimming pool at Tottenham Green Leisure Centre closed for the last six months, and repeated swimming pool closures at Park Road, it is now time to review the arrangements for the provision of leisure services in the borough.”

Much of the report, which was presented to a meeting of the council’s cabinet on Tuesday (12th), remains confidential as it contains commercially sensitive information.

During the meeting, the council’s monitoring officer, Fiona Alderman, revealed it was unlikely that the confidential section would be made available to the Liberal Democrat opposition group but said scrutiny committees would be able to review the report.

Speaking after the meeting, Emily Arkell, cabinet member for culture, communities and leisure, said: “Our leisure centres are crucial resources for our communities. I know just how important it is for residents to have access to high-quality fitness and swimming facilities, and have been deeply disappointed by the ongoing closure of the pools at Tottenham Green and repeated closures at Park Road over the last six months.

“Following this difficult period, we have decided that now is the right time to conduct a review of our leisure provision to ensure that arrangements are in place to provide the best sport, health and leisure services for our residents.

“The immense success of New River Sport and Fitness since it was brought back under council control two years ago shows that there is a different way to manage leisure services. We have been able to increase usage of the centre and invest funds raised into improving facilities, with a brand-new gym, improved cafe and a new five-a-side football league with more options for women and girls.

“We’ll be taking this experience into account when deciding the best way forward for our future provision of leisure services across Haringey.”

Fusion Lifestyle has been approached for comment.

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