New leisure contract can be no worse value

17 August 2005

I'M glad the interim contract to run Hackney's leisure facilities has been given to a not-for-profit organisation. It can't be worse than the previous contract with Leisure Connection.

The termination of Leisure Connection's contract was a rare bit of good news to come out of the

closure of Clissold Leisure Centre.

It was bad contract since it tied Hackney into a 15-year deal. Clissold has been closed for about 21 months, but Leisure Connection has still been receiving payments due to it - about £4 million since 2002.

The contract did not demonstrate best value for Hackney, especially since Leisure Connection is getting a further payment for its termination.

Whoever gets to run Hackney's leisure facilities, we mustn't have another long-term contract which profits shareholders, not council tax payers. There is a strong argument that leisure facilities should be run by the council. How can paying money to a private company for running a public service represent best value?

Mischa Borris, Hackney

Green Party, Windus Road,

Stoke Newington.