Freedom Leisure has further bolstered its presence in Wales and south west England by securing the contract to manage five leisure centres in Gloucestershire.

The not-for-profit leisure operator will take charge of the sites from October, working in partnership with Forest of Dean District Council on the leisure facilities in the towns of Cinderford, Coleford, Lydney, Newent and Sedbury.

The Forest Of Dean management contract comes hot on the heels of the 15 Powys centres in Wales that Freedom Leisure began managing in June, and brings the number of sites it manages to 52.

From October, Freedom Leisure will start to implement a modernisation programme to improve various aspects of the Gloucestershire centres. A budget of around £1m has been set aside for the Forest of Dean and details of the improvement works are due to be announced soon.

“We are extremely pleased to have been selected as the Forest of Dean District Council’s leisure partner and look forward to working closely with the local communities to improve their leisure facilities,” said Freedom Leisure managing director Ivan Horsfall Turner.

“We understand that the five leisure centres are highly regarded by the local community and our job is to maximise their potential and reward their loyal membership with updated and extended facilities and services.”