THREE leisure centres and swimming pools in Sedgemoor have been awarded £260,000.

The funding is from Sport England’s National Leisure Recovery Fund, which is aimed at assisting leisure facilities and helping the nation to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Sedgemoor District Council (SDC) put in the bid for three centres in the district.

These included 1610 Trinity Sports and Leisure Centre in Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea Swim and Sports Academy in Burnham-on-Sea and Kings Fitness and Leisure Centre in Cheddar.

Despite not owning or running the facilities, SDC had to put in the application due to the rules of the bidding process.

A spokesperson for SDC said: “ Hot on the heels of recent announcements in the national budget, comes more good news for Sedgemoor residents, in that three leisure and swimming pools have been awarded £260,000.

“Due to the rules of the bidding process, Sedgemoor District Council was the organisation who had to put in the complex financial application, even though it does not own nor run the facilities.

“Despite not owning nor running the three facilities, Sedgemoor District Council does support community access, school swimming lessons and general health and wellbeing of residents to the tune of £622,000 a year.”

At the moment SDC gives Kings Fitness and Leisure in Cheddar a £150,000 subsidy plus around £60,000 a year to cover repair and maintenance.

Around £400,000 is given to 1610 Trinity Sports and Leisure Centre in Bridgwater for utilities, repair and maintenance costs.

And £12,000 is given to Burnham Swim and Sports Academy for school swimming lessons.