Leeds City Council has been looking at options for the future of Old Cockburn Sports Hall in Beeston. A report to today’s Executive Board (10 February 2016) proposes the transfer to the building to the Hamara Healthy Living Centre on a 25 year peppercorn lease.
Old Cockburn Sports Hall was built in 1978 and is located on Primrose Lane, off Dewsbury Road close to the Leeds City College Joseph Priestley campus. It is currently used by Youth Services, a majorettes group and the Leeds United Foundation.
The Council has struggled with bookings over recent years and the centre has been losing money. It is hoped that Hamara will be able to more actively manage the centre and bring in more users. Currently the centre is used for 18 hours a week, Hamara plan to increase that to 59 hours per week.
Hamara plans to offer services to the elderly and people with learning disabilities through the day and expand the range of sports on offer at evenings and weekends. Existing users will be able to continue, but five-a-side football, cricket and karate will be introduced as well as a small gym.
Hamara will invest £30,000 in improvements and equipment and will receive a revenue support grant of £55,000 over the first three years paid for out of the savings to the council. The centre currently costs the Council £25,000 per year.
You can read the full report here: http://democracy.leeds.gov.uk/documents/s141755/Old%20Cockburn%20Sports%20Hall%20Cover%20Report%20010216.pdf
