Leisure chiefs count cost of downturn

The economic downturn has started to hit the performance of the company that manages Edinburgh’s publicly-owned sports facilities, council chiefs admitted today.

A new report shows there was 553 visits to Edinburgh Leisure facilities for every 1000 of the population over August and September, which was lower than the target of 566.

But it did also show that admissions were two per cent higher than the same period of 2010 as a result of outreach work and an increase in visits to the Edinburgh International Climbing Centre and Gracemount Leisure Centre.

Stephanie-Anne Harris, head of sport and physical activity at the city council, said: “Edinburgh Leisure are still doing all they can to keep people coming through their doors.”