Freedom Leisure has begun a new nine-site operator contract in Wrexham which came into effect at the beginning of the month.

The not-for-profit leisure trust has taken over the management of four leisure centres and five dual-use sports facilities on behalf of Wrexham County Borough Council, which previously operated the sites in-house. This is the second Welsh contract for Freedom Leisure – following its win last year to manage 15 sites in Powys – and the operator recently brought in Jeremy Rowe to spearhead its growing Wales & West territory.

The company is working in partnership with Wrexham County Borough Council to manage the Waterworld Leisure and Activity Centre, Chirk Leisure & Activity Centre, Gwyn Evans Leisure & Activity Centre and Queensway Leisure Centre which are all situated in the town, the largest in North Wales. In addition, Freedom Leisure will manage the dual-use facilities based at Darland School, Rhiwabon School, Clywedog School, Rhosnesni School and Ysgol Morgan Llwyd.

The Centres at Waterworld, Chirk, Gwyn Evans and Queensway will benefit from £3m worth of refurbishment. Visitors to Waterworld will see improved reception and café area, a larger gym and refurbished toilets and changing areas. Chirk Leisure and Activity Centre will benefit from a new larger gym whilst the existing gym is converted into a studio.

“We are delighted to have secured this contract in Wrexham and feel these sites have great potential as they each have a loyal and active customer base with whom we will enjoy working,” said Rowe, Freedom Leisure’s head of operations, Wales & West.

“As with all our new contracts, we will have an initial period of consultation with our new colleagues and members and will encourage comment and feedback from them to ensure our plans can be tailored to suit the needs of the local communities in the town.”