THE community trust which runs Plas Madoc Leisure Centre is seeking a 99 year lease on the building.

A proposal will go in front of Wrexham Council’s Executive Board next week, to replace the current lease which only has 12 years to run, ending in November 2034.

The new lease would be on similar terms and conditions to the current one, but crucially would allow the trust to apply for major grants with a 25 year-lease the minimum required.

Amid huge public protest, the Acrefair based leisure centre was closed for more than six months in 2014 when it was a victim to council cuts. But it was reopened later that year after the Splash Community Trust formed to take it on.

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The report, to be presented by leader of the council, Cllr Mark Pritchard, also lead member for Finance and Performance, outlines how pre-Covid the centre was going from strength to strength, with figures in the 2019 accounts showing “a profitable business which should therefore be viable going forward”.

But the centre will need more grant funding to continue with necessary refurbishments and needs a longer lease to be able to make those grant applications.

The report states: “The Leisure Centre was built in the mid 1970’s and whilst the Trust has, since the grant of the lease, refurbished the gym, sports hall, spin studio, soft play area, community meeting room and café, it is still facing a considerable capital programme to complete the refurbishment of the Centre which will continue to need grant funding.

“The next priority is to refurbish the pool and replace the flume by hopefully picking up from 2020 with a lottery application for this project.

“Two years ago following a full refurbishment of the gym, a major flood occurred resulting in a £200,000 plus insurance claim. Due to this risk it is intended to move the gym onto another floor and capital funding will be needed for this project.”

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The Council’s Health and Development team has confirmed that the Free Swim programme is being delivered at Plas Madoc, and the National Exercise on Referral Scheme (NERS) also sees up to 200 people a year referred to the centre.

If approved Wrexham Council’s Chief Officer Housing would liaise with Splash Community Trust to ensure that it concurrently surrenders the lease dated November 28, 2014;

The Chief Officer Housing would then be authorised to negotiate and conclude the terms and conditions for the replacement lease.

Wrexham Council’s Executive Board will make a decision on the lease at their meeting on Tuesday (September 27).