THE biggest and best health club in the North-east is now simpler and fairer to use…and many prices are about to come down.
Leisure centre users across Northumberland will benefit from a range of better value admission charges where the cost is the same, whichever Active Northumberland venue they visit.
As part of a £40 million programme of improvements, county-wide simpler pricing is being unveiled on November 1 – and just like the mobile phone contracts that most people have, the value gets even better when you enjoy the Active experience for longer.
Full access to swimming, gyms and activity classes at all 14 Active run leisure centres is just £32 per month when paying by direct debit on a year’s deal. That’s less than £8 per week for unlimited use of state-of- the-art facilities, many open seven days per week.
Children will still enjoy reduced admission and we’ve extended the upper age limit to 18, so all youngsters can enjoy a healthy and fun lifestyle for less. Users on a range of welfare payments who cannot afford the full cost and so could miss out on the benefits of keeping fit will also be eligible for concessionary prices.
Customers who find a shorter commitment suits their lifestyle will pay just £40 per month on a three-month tie-in, to use any centre’s swim, gym and class facilities. Swim only membership is £32 per month.
The current complex system of dozens of different prices being charged by similar centres was unfair to users who ended up paying more than others. This was a legacy of Active taking over from a variety of operators across the county.
Lorraine Dewison, Chief Executive of Active Northumberland, said: “These changes will ensure our fantastic leisure facilities will be available to everyone all over this great county in a fairer, easy-to- understand way.
“As the body running leisure centre services for the county council, we want to protect, maintain and improve the venues, despite a national picture of financial cutbacks.
“Other leisure providers feel they have no alternative but to close sites – in Northumberland we have instead decided to think creatively so that we can keep and expand as many facilities as possible for residents, while ensuring we get the best value out of every pound spent.”
Current leisure centre users who pay for memberships by direct debit are being contacted individually about the changes. Further details will be available on the relaunched Active Northumberland website www.activenorthumberland.org.uk from November 1 – customers can also contact Active Northumberland on 01670 542222.