Council under fire for leisure centre problems

A MUM has criticised the authorities after a lift at Loughborough Leisure Centre remained out of order for more than a month - causing issues for parents with young children and disabled people.

Hannah Severyn spoke out about her difficulties while the Browns Lane leisure centre’s one and only lift had not been repaired.

Speaking last week, she said: “I use the lift regularly as I have a pushchair and I haven’t been able to access the upper floors since the start of the year.

“There was a notice saying it was due to be repaired weeks ago but I’ve been twice in the last fortnight and it’s not mended. This either means it hasn’t been repaired or it’s repeatedly broken after being fixed. Instead, they’re asking their staff and customers to carry pushchairs up two flights of stairs. I did this initially but it’s not safe with a baby in the pushchair so I’ve stopped going.

“My main concern is for disabled people who use the leisure centre for fitness and their own physical development. To have not repaired the lift for months isn’t on - especially when some people are paying for memberships and not able to access the full facilities.

“If you phone, they tell you it’s being fixed that day/week but they warn you to call back and check.”

The lift was finally repaired last week.

A spokesperson for Charnwood Borough Council said: “Along with Fusion, our partner which is contracted to operate our three leisure centres, we would like to apologise to customers regarding the out-oforder lift at Loughborough Leisure Centre.

“Unfortunately the repair has taken longer than anticipated as some additional parts were required.

“Fusion staff have put alternative measures in place to make the building as accessible as possible, including creating a different access to the poolside and helping visitors with small children and prams upstairs as much as possible.

“We would like to thank visitors for their patience.”