South Wales Evening Post - 6 January 2007
The new leisure centre will cost tax payers £1 million in running costs next year - despite only opening for three months.
Swansea Council has set aside the cash in the budget for "pre-opening and running costs of the refurbished leisure centre".
The money will cover the next financial year from April to the end of March, 2008, just weeks after the proposed opening date.
Swansea Council leaders have also announced the centre will be run by a group which will include members of the public. A not-for-profit company will be created to take advantage of tax laws, and council bosses will appoint ordinary people to the management board.
The team will also include business people from the area, councillors and staff at the centre.
Council leader Chris Holley said the move would ensure people in the city get the best value for money from the £32 million centre.
"This is an exciting initiative. The refurbished leisure centre will be run by the people of Swansea for the people of Swansea. For the first time citizens will have a real say in how a leisure facility is run and they will run it in the best interests of the community."
According to Phil Davies, the man in charge of the project, the leisure centre will continue to have handouts from the council throughout its life.
He said: "I do not know of one leisure centre that makes a profit. The council is providing a service, and like all other services, it needs to be paid for."
