Investigation reveals long standing issues at Milton Keynes community centres

Long-standing issues at city facilities run by Hertsmere Leisure have come to a head after a council investigation, a councillor has revealed.

For several years community centres at Westcroft, Tattenhoe, and Furzton have suffered from poor cleanliness, booking problems,and access difficulties, said Tory ward councillor Edith Bald.

“Some users have abandoned their bookings due to poor service and all three facilities are underused as a result of the issues experienced,” she said.

Hertsmere Leisure Trusts runs on behalf of MK council a string of leisure centres, including Bletchley and the new sport Central, as well pavilions and meeting places.

A trail of complaints from ward councillors and the Shenley Brook End Parish Council culminated in an official audit investigation by the council, said Edith.

An external leisure Consultant was employed and made several recommendations, all of which have now been adopted.

Edith said: “ There will be better performance measures, increased staffing levels, more liaison with users and more oversight from senior management at the council and from Hertsmere.”

She said she was looking forward to seeing the improvements, which she described as “long overdue.”

She added: “I want to see safe, clean facilities ,that are easy to book and easy to access, and many more bookings as for sure the demand is there. These facilities are worth millions so lets make sure the community can use them.”

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