A Kent leisure centre will receive a share of £20 million being dished out by the government in a bid to help facilities stay open as operating costs rise.

Ashford’s Stour Centre is one of 196 vulnerable swimming pools across the UK in line to get thousands of pounds.

It comes as the Department for Culture, Media and Sport works to get 3.5 million more people active by 2030 and support leisure centres most at risk of closure or significant service reduction.

The Stour Centre, which is home to a swimming pool, soft play, climbing walls and a gym, will receive £279, 259 of the large pot.

The venue, in Tannery Lane, underwent a major £7.5 million refurbishment project in 2021.

But the following year, customers hit out after spotting half-eaten food and dirty tiles in the changing rooms.

The government’s swimming pool support fund was announced in the March budget to support facilities with pools. This first £20 million of funding going to at risk sites will be used to help with the recent rise in energy costs, such as paying towards immediate maintenance costs, heating and pool chemicals.

Over the coming months, the recipients of a further £40 million will be announced.

This part of the fund will be made available for investment in making the pools and leisure centres more energy efficient, including funding new heating systems and energy-saving interventions.

This is intended to help the long-term energy and financial resilience of the sector.

Sports minister Stuart Andrew said leisure centres and pools are vital for millions of people to stay fit and healthy.

“We know that many public swimming pools are experiencing greater pressure due to increased operating costs,” he said.

‘We know that many public swimming pools are experiencing greater pressure due to increased operating costs...’

“We have heard their concerns and have stepped in to help them make ends meet with £20 million immediate relief, and a further £40 million to help improve sustainability of public swimming pools over the long term.

"This is part of our support for grassroots sports facilities with more than £400 million in order to achieve our ambitious target of getting 3.5 million more people active by 2030.”

Cllr Kate Walder, Cabinet Member for Recreation said the council is extremely pleased to receive part of this funding and that the government has recognised the pressure on these vital and much-used community facilities.

Freedom Leisure area manager, Chris Ashley added: “We are pleased that Ashford Borough Council has been successful in securing government funding via the Swimming Pool Support Fund and we look forward to working with the council to support the swimming facilities at the Stour Centre going forward.

“As a result of the energy crisis we as an organisation have seen our energy bills more than double and although this additional funding will help it remains a challenge to maintain swimming pools across the UK and we would encourage as many residents as possible to continue to use and support their local community swimming pools.”