FAQs

We’re reviewing the Centre as part of a wider effort to make all our leisure services more financially sustainable. Rising costs, reduced usage, and ageing facilities mean we need to explore new ways of delivering these services that offer better value and long-term stability. 

The Water Sports Centre is running at a significant financial loss. It is important that its facilities are provided more economically so that it can contribute to the fulfilment of the Council’s duty to balance its budget

No. There are no plans to close the Wirral Watersports Centre. This review is about finding the best way to keep the centre running successfully in the future.

We are currently looking at two possible delivery models:

1. Council maintain control
2. Council outsources the operation to an external operator

No decisions have been made yet, but we are considering a proposal to outsource the Water Sports Centre and the West Kirby Marine Lake to an external operator and we are inviting your views on that proposal. 

The operator would be selected competitively in accordance with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules and would be required to take a lease of the Sport’s Centre from the Council and enter into a concession agreement to manage the activities on the Marine Lake.

An external operator could bring new investment, expertise, and energy to the centre, while helping reduce operating costs. Any operator  would need to align with the Council’s values and ensure the Centre remains a welcoming and inclusive space for the community. We have carried out a market testing exercise which indicated to us that an external operator might be able to achieve these objectives whereas the Council is constrained by limited budgets and by staff terms and conditions of employment which are not competitive in the market.

At this stage, no decisions have been made about staffing. If a new operator is chosen, all employment rights and protections will be fully considered and respected in accordance with legal requirements, including TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings).

Our goal is to maintain fair, accessible pricing for all users. If we work with a new operator, they would  be expected to keep the centre affordable and inclusive, especially for young people, people with disabilities, schools, and community groups.  Prices would, however, have to be sufficient to enable the operator to make a reasonable return on its investment. An operator might be able to secure more income from the Lake by ensuring that every person who uses the facility pays for it, as is not the case at present.

We understand how important existing programmes are to residents. Any future operator would be expected to maintain a wide range of water sports and outdoor activity programmes and potentially expand on them.

You can share your views by taking part in this public consultation.  Click Take Survey to provide your views on this proposal.

We are currently in the early stages of exploring options. No final decisions will be made until after the consultation period is complete and all representations from those likely to be affected have been carefully considered