LEISURE centres are set to cut their opening hours in a bid to combat rising energy bills.

Freedom Leisure, which runs several leisure facilities for Brighton and Hove City Council, will be changing the opening hours at seven centres in the area as part of wide cost-cutting measures.

A briefing given to councillors said the new opening times were "designed to support Freedom Leisure to continue providing facilities to residents during the national cost-of-living crisis".

The new opening times would mean leisure centres either opening or closing 30 minutes earlier on weekdays, with further changes also affecting weekend services at some of them.

The leisure centres affected are:

  • Stanley Deason Leisure Centre in Wilson Avenue, Whitehawk, Brighton: closing at 5.30pm on weekends instead of 8pm
  • Moulsecoomb Community Leisure Centre in Moulsecoomb Way, Brighton: closing 30 minutes earlier every weekday at 10.30pm, and closing at 6.30pm instead of 8pm on Saturday and 4.30pm instead of 5pm on Sunday.
  • Withdean Sports Complex in Tongdean Way, Brighton: closing 30 minutes early each evening at 10.30pm and at 6.30pm instead of 8pm at weekends.
  • Prince Regent Swimming Complex in Church Street, Brighton: opening at 8am on Sunday instead of 7am.
  • Portslade Sports Centre in Chalky Road: closing 30 minutes earlier each evening at 10.30pm.
  • St Lukes Swimming Pool in St Luke's Terrace, Brighton: opening 30 minutes later at 7.30am and closing 30 minutes earlier at 9.30pm on weekdays.
  • King Alfred Leisure Centre in Kingsway in Hove: closing an hour earlier on Friday evening at 9.30pm.

The Argus: Robert Nemeth has criticised the changes in opening timesRobert Nemeth has criticised the changes in opening times

Councillor Robert Nemeth criticised the changes, particularly at King Alfred Leisure Centre, saying: “The council cannot of course control international energy prices but the situation generally does hit home the unacceptable delays that residents have had to face when it comes to the redevelopment of the King Alfred and other associated buildings.

"A new King Alfred should already be under way that uses renewable energy sources alongside modern insulation methods. Treating the King Alfred as a housing project, rather than as a sports project, has delayed matters for decades.”

Brighton and Hove City Council and Freedom Leisure were asked for comment.