Liberal Democrat vision for Bedford Borough's Leisure Offer

The Council’s Leisure Strategy is set to be published by the Council’s Executive late in 2024, having been included in the Forward Plan of decisions for October 2024.

The Liberal Democrat Group has welcomed the chance to engage in the development of the Leisure Strategy and have submitted feedback on priorities for residents going forward.

Our priorities are for the strategy to deliver for all residents in Bedford Borough. We have therefore engaged constructively to urge the Conservative Administration to commit to:

• Reducing barriers to participation in sport and leisure; including providing free facilities where possible, and supporting partners impartially,
• Enhancing and protecting existing provision; maintaining our record of keeping community leisure facilities open for community groups to use,
• Supporting and working with the third sector and private sectors in partnership, including supporting groups fairly and transparently;
• Setting clear targets, benchmarks and deadlines for delivery, so that the public can hold delivery to account.

Cllr Henry Vann said: “Our array of leisure facilities needs protecting, and we have asked for a firm commitment in writing that the council will not start charging for access to parks, playgrounds, park-runs, outdoor gyms, basketball courts and other free facilities.

“Any new and redeveloped facilities should be constructed to enable the widest possible participation, including for disabled people and other people that are shown to currently be under-represented in using Bedford’s facilities.