The cost of keeping fit in Bradford will be higher than anywhere else in West Yorkshire when prices soar next year.

Hikes of up to 15 per cent in sport and leisure charges are expected to rake in hundreds of thousands of pounds which will help offset massive rises in Bradford Council's fuel bills.

The Council's Conservative-ruled executive is expected to agree to the increases when it meets on Tuesday.

But the Tory group has been warned that the price rises could put people off using sports and leisure centres - in a district where obesity rates and poor fitness levels are a major cause of concern.

Labour group leader Councillor Ian Greenwood (Little Horton) said: "Of course from time to time prices have to go up but we are concerned that they are just putting them up on the basis of utility costs alone.

"The Council should be taking steps to maximise savings it can make on energy, both in terms of cost and effect on the climate. We would want to see some sort of strategic work into how raising prices could reduce the number of people using sports facilities."

The proposed rises include:

  • an extra 30p for adults to swim and 15p for juniors
  • £2 extra to hire a badminton court
  • £44 more to hire a top-grade outdoor football pitch for adults
  • swimming tuition to increase by 50p per half-hour lesson
  • fitness centre prices at premier gym
facilities to increase by six per cent.

This would make it more expensive in Bradford than at similar centres in Leeds, Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield for the majority of sports activities.

Other planned changes include a new fee of £22 per hour for library staff to conduct research and £34 more for an adult to be cremated.

The fees for bowls, tennis and putting are set to be frozen.

Other charges, such as bowls clubs' annual licences and market fees for traders, weddings at Cartwright Hall and community hall hire would rise by inflation.

It is also proposed to withdraw the £1 charge for lost library cards.

Jane Glaister, director of culture, tourism and sport, said: "We still feel the charges reflect good value for money, compared equally with other authorities, and will help us improve our facilities and extend our activity programmes.

"Prices and charges are reviewed every year and a number of factors are looked at - including the inflation rate, prices in neighbouring authorities, the need to improve and value for money.

"However, this year the single biggest impact on our fees is the rise in utility charges, which has seen gas prices increase by up to 75 per cent and electricity by up to 80 per cent.

"This has hit buildings like pools, sports centres and theatres, and although we will be able to introduce energy-efficient systems to help us contain fuel bills, it is not possible in the short term. In addition, crematorium charges are being increased nationally to meet legal requirements to control mercury emissions."

Every department is under pressure to cut costs as energy bills are expected to cost nearly £2 million extra this year alone.

The Council's executive member for environment and culture, Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, said: "This is the harsh reality. We can only afford to subsidise things to a certain level and at the moment the budget requires that we cover the costs of energy through extra charging.

"We do hope it won't put people off, but we are not talking about a massive increase. We have no choice about it. I would rather look at sustainable energy for the future but it requires investment."

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, leader of the Council's Liberal Democrats group, said: "Sport and leisure are having to cover the costs of energy because of the Government's failure to get a grip on energy costs."

Coun Sunderland said she was particularly concerned at the increases made to children's swimming lessons, as, she said, a great deal of work has been done to encourage children to learn to swim.

Richard Cullen, 25, of Wibsey, uses the gym at the Richard Dunn Sports Centre two or three times a week.

He said: "I think the Council charges too much already.

"I think the facilities are good but if they put the prices up it might be cheaper to go to a private gym with better facilities."

The last price rises at sports centres was in January - also to combat rising fuel prices.

That was the first hike in four years.

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