Changes to Newent Leisure Centre weekday opening to prioritise pupil safety
From Monday, 01 September, public access to Newent Leisure Centre will begin from 3.30pm to 9.30pm, Monday to Friday, aligning with the end of the school day.
This change follows ongoing safeguarding concerns that have been under review for some time, particularly in light of national guidance such as Martyn’s Law, which places greater emphasis on the need to protect public spaces and ensure robust security measures. As access to the leisure centre requires walking through the school site, the current arrangement allowing public access between 8.30am and 3.30pm is no longer considered suitable from a safeguarding perspective.
Weekend access will remain unchanged, and curriculum swimming lessons for primary schools will continue as normal. A Gloucestershire connected membership will also be available, allowing access to other leisure facilities operated by Freedom Leisure, including Cinderford and Gloucester.
The decision has been made jointly by Newent Community School, Forest of Dean District Council, and Freedom Leisure, who manage and operate the site in partnership.
Councillor Jackie Dale, Cabinet Member for Thriving Communities, commented:
“The safety and wellbeing of children must always come first. This site presents a unique challenge, and addressing safeguarding concerns has been a shared priority for some time.
While changes to access are now being implemented, our focus remains on supporting community use during evenings and weekends. Through our emerging Active Wellbeing Strategy, we’re committed to identifying opportunities for alternative activity provision in and around Newent, helping residents stay active and connected.”
Newent Community School’s Principal, Rhys Phillips, added:
"The safeguarding of our students is a responsibility we take extremely seriously. This change has been made with their safety and wellbeing as the guiding priority. We are proud to have worked closely with Forest of Dean District Council and Freedom Leisure in a genuinely collaborative spirit to find a solution that balances pupil safeguarding with continued community access.
"We remain committed to ensuring the leisure centre remains a valuable asset for the local community, supported by strong, ongoing partnership working.”
Users are encouraged to check the updated timetable on the Freedom Leisure website for full details: https://www.freedom-leisure.co.uk/newent
We thank the public for their understanding and continued cooperation as we implement this change.