“The new Aspire fitness suite, which came into use in June, is the main reason,” said centre manager Paul Felton this week. “Different measure mechanisms were used and this year’s figures are the more accurate.”
He will be reporting to the centre management committee’s AGM next Wednesday that since the suite opened 600 members have been inducted.
Mr Felton says the number of standing orders paying monthly memberships have also increased since the opening of the new suite to a total of 122 people generating about £29,000 a year. He reports that work on a new bar at the centre has been completed and fitted into a space where one-third of the centre’s raked seating was removed.
‘The job was completed at a modest cost of about £1,500 and will enable cost savings on set-up and clear-aways, an increase in space for additional tables and hence income and greater efficiencies in sales,’ he explains.
Work on improving the centre’s reception area is planned for December.
Mr Felton has obtained funds for the work, as part of a second round of Best Value capital bids with the aim of improving access, customer satisfaction, user figures and to complement the high standard of the new fitness suite.
He reports that Shropshire County Council is getting detailed estimates for the scheme. He adds that work on improvements to the two squash courts have been completed and comments from customers have been very complimentary.
