Thousands of pounds of extra investment in pools and leisure centres have been approved by councillors in Reading.

But questions have been raised over the benefit the council’s leisure service contractor GLL, trading as ‘Better’.

Member of the public Mr Wellum asked what targeted work GLL is doing to ‘reach those most in need’ and ‘work towards reducing health inequalities’ – stated aims of the contract GLL took on in July last year.

Adele Barnet-Ward, lead councillor for leisure, said that GLL is currently providing 12-week adult weight management classes, swimming lessons for those with special educational needs and disabilities – both of which did not exist before the GLL contract.

Additionally, it is providing healthy walks, a Physical Activity Referral Scheme, and free memberships to 70 Ukrainian refugees.

She explained that free or discounted  leisure centre access used to be obtained through the Your Reading Passport (YRP) scheme, but these benefits were not targeted to those most at need.

However, GLL has continued to provide free swimming to users of the former YRP scheme, with 1,943 free swims taking place between April and June 2022.

READ MORE: Reading leisure centre gym and studio upgrades completed

Mr Wellum also asked what type of benefits  the GLL contract has brought to Reading.

Cllr Barnet-Ward replied that GLL has presided over extensive upgrades to Rivermead, Palmer Park, South Reading and Meadway Leisure Centres.

She said: “GLL continue to offer a competitive, affordable membership and activity price.

“The council are working continuously with GLL to improve services and monitor GLL regularly against a range of indicators to ensure quality of service.”

Prices for memberships vary, but average at £28 per month for access to gyms, swimming and fitness classes.

Mr Wellum’s questions were asked at a Reading Borough Council policy committee meeting on Wednesday, September 21, where councillors gave the go ahead for a total of  £331,000 of improvements.

Of that, £295,000 will go into upgrading the pool and making new dry and wet changing rooms for the South Reading Leisure Centre.

READ MORE: Huge upgrades to South Reading Leisure Centre completed 

Cllr Micky Leng (Labour, Whitley) commented:  “I see it as a good news story.

“My family use South Reading pool and it’s very important to the people of Whitley in particular.

“My wife, she’s got arthritis, she goes swimming up there during the day. She’s recently upped her swim rate to 24 up and down so it’s doing her very good.

“It’s vital. Also, we are all singing, all dancing, about the new pools are going to be open. But we’re still going to be investing in the existing pools, I think that’s important too.”

Meanwhile, Palmer Park will benefit from £36,000 to improve wayfinding so people with visual impairments can easily access the centre.

Councillors also accepted £1.5 million from Sport England to cover the costs of leisure centre upgrades – £1 million of which will go to Rivermead and £500,000 to Palmer Park.

The upgrades and payments were approved unanimously.