Increase in visits to Leisure Centres

Figures from the market research company Mintel suggest there will be an extra 16 million visits made to leisure centres and swimming pools this year as people look for cheaper alternatives to expensive private health club memberships.

Many private clubs charge in excess of £50 per month (as well as a registration fee) to use their gym and swimming pools whilst council-run leisure centres usually charge no more than £30 a month.

Joe Bowe, company secretary at Kendal Lakes Leisure, which runs ex-council leisure centres said: "We are definitely picking up customers from private gyms." On an annual basis, his membership numbers have increased by 8 per cent.

Private health clubs are reluctant to give out numbers, but privately they admit to losing members, especially those based in the City of London.

Islington council in London, the home to many workers that have lost their jobs in the City, said that it had seen an increase in the number of members signing up in recent months.

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