Sencio, the operator of Sevenoaks Leisure Centre, Edenbridge Leisure Centre and Lullingstone Park Golf Course, has ceased trading with immediate effect and all of it’s facilities are currently closed.
Everyone Active, who run the Leisure Centre in Swanley, have offered all current Sencio gym members free access to any of their gyms from Friday 17th March for up to four weeks.
Sencio close all leisure facilities in Sevenoaks and Edenbridge
In an announcement to it’s members, Sencio said: “It is with great sadness that I need to inform you that as of today, Sevenoaks Leisure Limited, operating as Sencio Community Leisure has ceased trading.
“All of the facilities it currently operates, including Lullingstone Park Golf Course are currently closed.
“Sevenoaks Leisure Limited, which is the legal name of Sencio, is expected to enter liquidation in the next few weeks. Evelyn Partners is assisting in that process and will be sending notices to all those affected to provide them with further information in the next two weeks. A specific email address has been set up sencio@evelyn.com as a central point of contact.
“Sevenoaks District Council is seeking an alternative leisure operator to take over the management and operation of the centre.”
Council’s reaction to it’s councillors
In a letter to his councillors, the Chief Executive of Sevenoaks District Council, Dr Pav Ramewal wrote:
“We have been informed that, Sencio Community Leisure, the trust that operates Edenbridge and Sevenoaks Leisure Centres and Lullingstone Park Golf Course, has appointed an insolvency practitioner and will cease trading at the close of business today.
“The decision happened suddenly when Sencio realised it could no longer meet its financial liabilities for March.
“Sencio set itself up as a leisure trust in 2004 and has been governed by a board of directors and management team responsible for business and financial planning, together with the day-to-day running of these leisure facilities.
“Over the past few years, Sencio has received close to £1.4 million of public money, including £411,000 from the Council to help them through the lockdown and support business recovery.
“Members may recall that as recently as our Scrutiny Committee in January this year, Sencio gave categorical assurance that they had weathered the impact of the pandemic and seen a positive recovery in leisure.
“While Sencio’s decision to cease trading is out of our control, our top priority will be to work with the insolvency practitioner appointed by Sencio to reopen our leisure facilities. I am conscious that the situation is fluid, but notwithstanding, preparations are being made at pace so that once permitted, we are ready to re-open the leisure centres and golf course.
“A committee report is being prepared which will provide Members with an update on Sencio’s insolvency position and set out a way forward for the Council to reopen its leisure facilities.
“We are fully aware that Sencio’s decision will affect not only residents who use these facilities, but Sencio staff and the small businesses that depend on the centres and the facilities being open, so we want to move ahead as soon as possible.
“Our new White Oak Leisure Centre in Swanley is operated by Everyone Active and will continue to operate as normal. Everyone Active has kindly offered all current Sencio gym members free access to any of their gyms from Friday 17 March for up to four weeks.
“As I receive further details over the coming days and weeks, I will of course, ensure you are kept abreast of any updates or progress.
Regards, Dr Pav Ramewal, Chief Executive, Sevenoaks District Council.”
We will continue to update you when we have more information, until then please read this article West Kent Sport & Wellbeing wrote in 2021 which describes what will happen next. www.localsportsnews.co.uk/district-counc…
