Leisure centre prices to increase by four per cent across Hackney from January

Swimmers at the new Britannia Leisure Centre. Photograph: Sean Pollock

Prices at leisure centres in Hackney will go up by four per cent from January because of rising fuel costs.

Swimming pools and leisure centres across the country are facing expensive heating bills.

Councillor Robert Chapman, who has responsibility for finance, has “reluctantly” asked Hackney’s cabinet to approve the hike.

It means the cost of a £3.80 pay-and-play adult swimming session will go up by 15p.

The council’s energy costs are set to hit £3.15m in 2022 – up from £0.94m before the pandemic.

A recent survey by ukactive found that up to 85 per cent of public leisure centres could go under if they get no financial help in the next year.

Nearly half of Londoners quizzed by London Sport said they have been discouraged from playing sport regularly because of the cost-of-living crisis.

Cllr Chapman said the council wants to ensure people on low incomes can still use the leisure centres.

In the summer, the council said visits to the new Britannia Leisure Centre in Shoreditch were double the number using its predecessor, and it wants to keep seeing people there.

Concessions will be “protected” from the price hike, while under-18s, over-60s, carers and disabled people with a pay-and-play card will still have access to free swimming at Britannia, Clissold, and Kings Hall leisure centres.

Cllr Chapman said: “These decisions are not taken lightly and we have done our utmost to protect those most likely to be affected by the cost-of-living crisis from fees and charges increases so they can continue to use our leisure centres.”

The price hike is expected to net the council an extra £993,000 in a year.

A Town Hall report warned that prices could go up again by 5.4 per cent next April.

Council bosses said closing a leisure centre will only be considered as a “last resort”.

The council will also continue making the leisure centres greener and use its surplus share fund to minimise the impact of price rises.

It wants to apply for government decarbonisation grants at Clissold Leisure Centre anf London Fields Lido. It has already put solar panels at London Fields Lido, Hackney Marshes, Queensbridge and West Reservoir and a  water source heat pump at West Reservoir.