The future of Penrith Swimming Club’s Learn to Swim programme at Penrith Leisure Centre is uncertain after Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) raised concerns over the way the programme has been operating at the council-owned facility.
Westmorland and Furness councillors were informed of the situation in a private briefing given on Friday by the council’s Operations Lead for Leisure Facilities.
Penrith Leisure Centre is owned by Westmorland and Furness Council, with Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) operating the facility under contract on the council’s behalf.
Councillors were told that GLL identified that Penrith Swimming Club has been operating a Learn to Swim programme at the leisure centre for some time, but that there is no formal agreement, contractual provision or documented arrangement in place authorising the club to deliver the programme from the facility.
GLL subsequently monitored pool use over a period of around 10 to 12 weeks and established that the club’s programme was using the learner pool and generating additional operational and lifeguarding costs which were being met by the leisure centre, despite the sessions not being formally booked.
GLL has proposed that Penrith Swimming Club stops delivering its Learn to Swim programme at the leisure centre.
However, in response to questions raised by Penrith.Town News, the council has now stressed that no final decision has been made and discussions with the club are continuing.
Penrith Leisure Centre already has an established Learn to Swim programme delivered by GLL.
Councillors were told in the briefing that allowing a third party to operate an equivalent programme in the same facility creates duplication and could cause confusion for local residents about where swimming lessons should be accessed.
The briefing also set out the views of GLL that running parallel programmes would normally only be supported where there is evidence of unmet demand, such as significant waiting lists, insufficient teaching capacity or a need to provide lessons for groups not already being catered for.
According to the information provided to councillors, GLL does not believe this is currently the situation in Penrith.
Instead, the club’s Learn to Swim programme appears to have developed through historical practice rather than through a formally agreed strategic arrangement.
The lack of a formal agreement also creates questions around responsibilities, charging arrangements, use of the pool, safeguarding, qualifications and how the sessions fit within the leisure centre’s operating procedures.
Despite the proposal to stop the existing Learn to Swim arrangement, the council has stressed that Penrith Swimming Club remains an important part of swimming provision in the area.
The council says it is exploring options to formalise its relationship with the club through an appropriate Community Use Agreement.
This could provide a clearer framework for the club to use leisure facilities while also strengthening its role within the wider swimming pathway across Penrith and Eden.
A Westmorland and Furness Council spokesperson told Penrith.Town News:
“Penrith Swimming Club's Learn to Swim programme at Penrith Leisure Centre is currently under review as part of a wider standardisation process across GLL's leisure portfolio. Discussions with the club are ongoing and no decisions have been made.
“As with all children's activities delivered within leisure centres, it is important that appropriate arrangements are in place covering responsibilities, safeguarding, qualifications, facility use and operational procedures.
“Penrith Swimming Club remains a valued partner in developing swimming opportunities across Penrith and Eden and we are exploring options to formalise future partnership arrangements through an appropriate Community Use Agreement and to strengthen the club's role within the wider swimming pathway.”
For families currently using Penrith Swimming Club’s Learn to Swim programme, there is currently no confirmed date for the programme to end and no final decision has been announced.
GLL’s proposal would effectively mean that its own Learn to Swim programme becomes the single structured Learn to Swim offer at Penrith Leisure Centre.
But the council's statement makes clear that discussions are still taking place and that the future relationship between GLL and Penrith Swimming Club has not yet been settled.
The situation highlights a wider issue around how the council-owned leisure centre is used and how local clubs operate alongside services delivered by its contracted operator.
Penrith Swimming Club has an established role in developing swimming in the town, while GLL is responsible for operating Penrith Leisure Centre under its contract with Westmorland and Furness Council.
The council is now looking at whether those roles can be brought together under a formal arrangement, rather than the existing Learn to Swim programme continuing without a documented agreement.
For now, the future of Penrith Swimming Club’s Learn to Swim programme at Penrith Leisure Centre remains uncertain, with discussions between the club, GLL and Westmorland and Furness Council continuing.
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