SWINDON’S leisure and golf facilities look set to be leased out in just a few weeks’ time as the final negotiations near their conclusion.

Earlier this year it was announced that all leisure facilities will be run by Greenwich Leisure Limited while Broome Manor and Highworth Gold will be leased to Twigmarket.

It has now been confirmed that the changes will come into effect on November 1 after the final details of the lease were ironed out.

Users are being told they will not see any significant changes when the move happens, but there will be some investment in the long run.

Coun Keith Williams (Con, Shaw), the cabinet member for leisure, said: “We are in the final stages and the agreement is nearly complete.

“Users will not actually see too many changes apart from perhaps a uniform change.

“All the staff will be transferring over so there will be no job losses.

“My understanding is Twigmarket are keen to move forward quickly with changes so golf users could see things happen quite soon. I do know people had concerns about charges being introduced at the Croft car park but we have had assurances that there are no plans, and never were, to do so.”

The changes to the ‘Leisure in Swindon’ card have also been announced and thousands of leaflets are due to be sent out to inform people of the changes.

The most notable alteration is that the Oasis, which GLL run on a day-to-day basis, will be included while Broome Manor will no longer be included with the leisure card.

“Around 20,000 leaflets will be going out to card holders to let them know the changes which are going to happen,” said Coun Williams.

“There are a few who have a joint card for both leisure and golf and they will also be contacted.

“From what we have seen there are not many who use both so I don’t think there will be a big effect there.

“What it does mean now though is that someone who may go to the Haydon Centre can now use the Oasis once again.

“Overall, this is a very good thing for Swindon which will see investment in the facilities that could not have happened if they remained under council control.

“There was some early confusion over the process but when dealing with private companies there has to be a balance about what we put in the public domain.”