WIMBORNE’S Queen Elizabeth Leisure Centre (QELC) will soon cease to operate as it now does as council funding is withdrawn – with jobs put at risk.

Dorset Council will hand over the running of the venue to owners, the Queen Elizabeth’s School Trust, at the end of March, saving around £500,000 each year.

However the Trust, which owns the adjacent school, in Blandford Road, has not reached agreement with a new operator, so has confirmed the centre will change from April 1.

The changes comes after, in early 2022, the council voted to give trustees two years’ notice they would withdraw from the current management arrangements at QELC at the end of March 2024.

At this point, the day-to-day operation of the facility becomes the responsibility of the trust.

The decision was made as the council subsidises QELC by around £500,000 each year, a spokesperson said, which is around a third of their overall leisure centres budget.

In an area where seven public leisure facilities are within a 20-minute drive of QELC – three of which are owned by Dorset Council – it was considered the spend could not be justified, they added.

Meanwhile, due to the lack of a new operator for the leisure centre, the Trust has confirmed the QELC will cease operating as it does now on March 31.

“The facilities will still be utilised for the school curriculum and made available for community clubs and groups during non-school use times,” a council spokesperson said.

“Future bookings and administration will be managed through the school’s staff.”

QELC currently has around 40 permanent employees; nine full-time workers, with a further 31 in part-time roles.

Everyone in scope of potential redundancy has now entered a 45-day period of formal consultation with Dorset Council, via 1:1 support and in liaison with trade unions.

“During this time, those in scope will be kept informed of redeployment opportunities and vacant posts that the council has across its other services (including Leisure Services), where they will be given priority if they meet the requirements of the role,” the spokesperson said.

“Dorset Council will work with Initio Learning Trust (who operate Queen Elizabeth’s School) over the coming months to inform current QELC customers, user groups, and clubs about what is happening with services and scheduled activities in the future.”

Anyone with questions about services and activities at QELC from April 1 onwards should email office@queenelizabeths.com, or call 01202 885233.