Rye News has heard that when Freedom Leisure bosses announced the closure of the swimming pool at Rye Sports Centre last week, employees were advised: "Be careful about speaking to anyone about it for a week".
Some outraged staff members refused to keep silent. Rye News, social media, local television, and a widely publicised petition, are giving a public voice to growing outrage against this closure.
The centre manager in Rye has worked hard to form a cohesive loyal team of professionals running activities in hand around the pool and the gym since the closures during Covid lockdowns but Freedom Leisure says there will only be a "skeleton staff" over the winter. With the pool closing there is a fear that membership of other classes at the centre will dwindle, begging the question, "How long will the leisure centre last?"
Ivan Horsfall Turner, the CEO of Freedom Leisure, admits his decision "goes against our ethos and vision of improving lives through leisure". He also appears to be unapologetic about his reasons for choosing Rye, as one of two pool closures across the country. This decision puts leisure centre employees’ livelihoods and mortgages at stake.
The centre staff are being told that there will be efforts to relocate them to other jobs but with no guarantees and no assurance about paying travel costs to and from jobs outside Rye. Freedom Leisure wages are low and many staff are doing multiple jobs to keep afloat.
Town mayor Andi Rivett will hold a public meeting at the leisure centre this Saturday at 10am to gather even greater public support to save our swimming pool.
