Wandsworth Publishes New Leisure Strategy
Half of borough's adults and over a third of Year 6 children are overweight
Council keen to encourage more people to get active. Picture: Tony Alter
July 23, 2024
Wandsworth Council will offer discounted leisure centre memberships to students, improve playgrounds and investigate opening a new football pitch to get more residents active. Wandsworth Council has revealed its plans after adopting a new leisure and sports strategy for the borough, which aims to break down barriers for people who find it more difficult to take part in physical activity.
The council has published its plans for the first year of the strategy, which will see it expand its ‘access for all’ scheme providing free and discounted gym and swimming sessions at leisure and sports centres in the borough. The new offers, launching this summer, include discounted premium memberships at peak times for eligible adults and students at the venues – with the monthly cost halved from £43 to £21.50.
Under-18s who qualify for free school meals will also be entitled to peak memberships at the venues for £15 a month and casual activities for £2.50. Under-8s on free school meals will be able to access soft play areas at leisure centres for free.
At Tooting Bec Lido, the UK’s biggest open-air freshwater pool, 10 per cent of tickets will be free for eligible adults and some children. The remaining children’s tickets will cost £2.50 each, while students will be entitled to £5 tickets. The council wants the pricing offer to be the ‘most generous and compassionate’ in the UK.
A report by council officers said that while Wandsworth is well-equipped with opportunities to get active, some residents still face barriers to using these facilities regularly. Women in the borough are less likely to be active than men, according to the report, while half of adults and more than a third of Year 6 children are overweight or obese.
The council’s finance committee approved the adoption of the strategy on 17 July to address these challenges. Labour councillor Judi Gasser said, ‘years of thinking’ had gone into the strategy, with a focus on giving all residents ‘every opportunity to be out there enjoying themselves getting fit and healthy’.
The authority is also rolling out free intensive swimming lessons for all Wandsworth children in years 5 to 7, as part of the strategy, and finalising plans to launch adult parkrun in Battersea Park. It plans to bring affordable opportunities for physical activity to estates in the borough, starting with a pilot scheme on the Alton Estate.
The council aims to launch a campaign to boost the number of women and girls taking part in sport with a catalogue of programmes in September next year, while it is investing £1million a year for four years to improve playgrounds. It is investigating the opportunity to open a new full-size 3G artificial football pitch locally, while it has secured funding to build new facilities at the George Shearing Centre and Heathbrook Park.
The report said, “We’re helping Wandsworth become London’s most active borough by giving our residents better access to high-quality physical and leisure activities, so they can enjoy happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives.
“The success of the strategy will mean all residents will be able to access a network of quality, accessible, affordable, sustainable – financially and environmentally – assets which provide opportunities for people to be active and take part in sport, leisure, and physical activity.”
The authority will set up a community sports and physical activity network, including sports clubs, community groups, health partners and council representatives, to deliver the strategy.
Charlotte Lillywhite - Local Democracy Reporter