Search Still On For Outdoor Leisure Attraction Operators

Alternative operators are still being sought for a number of Swansea’s outdoor leisure attractions. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Swansea Council is urging third parties who may be interested in running facilities including Blackpill Lido and the Bay Rider land train from May to December 2016 to submit application forms by Monday March 21. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Alternative operators are also wanted for the Ashleigh Road pitch and putt, Singleton boating lake, mini golf at Southend Gardens and the Langland Bay tennis courts. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Third parties are being sought to run these attractions on a short-term basis from the start of May until the end of December. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The search is part of the council’s Sustainable Swansea: Fit for the Future transformational programme that’s guiding how the council goes about making savings of about £80 million over the next three years, while protecting as many services as possible. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cultural services are among many council services that could be run differently in future. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Development and Regeneration, said: “While these outdoor facilities are among the services we’re looking to run differently in the longer term, we’re also now looking for alternative operators to run them from May till the end of the year. This will help us make savings in the short-term while we explore longer term options for alternative models of delivery for these facilities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We’d urge anyone interested in running any of these six attractions from the start of May to the end of the year to submit an application by Monday March 21 so we can explore their ideas in readiness for the peak summer tourist season.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council has also started testing the marketplace for interest in running these facilities and other cultural services in the longer term. Expressions of interest are being sought by Thursday March 24 from third parties, including not-for-profit and community-based companies and organisations, to work in partnership with the council for attractions including the museum service, Plantasia and community leisure centres. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Email cultural.partnerships@swansea.gov.uk if you’d like to express an interest or request more information on how to apply. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​