Price hikes set for Active Trowbridge

Councillors voted to approve introducing higher fees and lower discounts at their leisure services committee meeting on Tuesday (June 18).

The new fees will begin from September 1 to bring Active Trowbridge pricing more in line with commercial competitors.

Active Trowbridge was launched in 2008 to provide innovative and affordable sporting opportunities for the community. 

The service is available to all schools in Trowbridge and the surrounding parishes, including Hilperton, North Bradley, Southwick, Staverton and Westwood.

The council says schools using Active Trowbridge within the town boundary will receive a higher percentage discount than schools in neighbouring parishes who use the service.

Children taking part in an Active Trowbridge hockey session. (Image: Active Trowbridge)

Town Council leader Cllr Stewart Palmen said: “It was a really good meeting. We discussed subsidies in parishes and the town and approved a new pricing policy which will take effect after the summer holiday.”

Councillors discussed different options, including reducing the level of subsidy, implementing a differential subsidy for town schools compared to parish schools, and the potential for a mid-year increase from September.

They also discussed changes to the service’s business model and operations following a new management and committee structure introduced recently.

Cllr Edward Kirk, who had previously criticised the way Active Trowbridge has been run, said: “Trowbridge Town Council should not be subsiding what every other council considers as commercial service.  

“Trowbridge Town Council is the only council providing this type of subsidised service to clients as far as the council is aware.”

Children take part in Active Trowbridge indoor activities. (Image: Active Trowbridge)

Active Trowbridge runs Active Kids Camps through the summer holidays as well as school sports coaching, and pre-school and after-school clubs.

The service also operates a community sports roadshow, cricket, football and tennis sessions, including coaching the Trowbridge Wildcats girls teams.

This year, the Kids Camps have been re-evaluated and changes have been made to the structure and how the camp operates by introducing themed days.

Excluding the manager and office administrator, Active Trowbridge now has a total of 14 sports coaches and two community play workers, which includes the coach development officer, co-ordinator and two apprentices.

These were contracted across a combination of full and part-time hours for a total of 521 hours per week or 27,092 hours per year.

Hilperton Primary School received 12.5 coaching hours from Active Trowbridge between April 1 and June 9, but has withdrawn from the service.