Dear Wealden resident,

As you may be aware, the East Sussex County Council is currently holding a 10-week public consultation regarding the future of Uckfield Leisure Centre, and I would like to encourage you to take the time to formally respond and have your say

Wealden District Council have protected the Leisure Centre previously by extending the lease and now East Sussex County Council have opened a public consultation. We need you, the residents of Uckfield and users of this important asset to do your bit and ensure that your views are made known to the East Sussex County Council, who are the body that manage the consultation and will be deciding the future of the leisure centre.

Please remember that any correspondence to myself as your MP, social media posts or signing up to unofficial petitions do not count as contributions to the East Sussex County Council's consultation.

To formally share your views, please do so via the link below:

https://consultation.eastsussex.gov.uk/business-services/consultation-on-future-options-for-uckfield-leisur/

Leisure centres and swimming pools are key facilities for our communities, and I appreciate the difficulties that swimming pools in Wealden and nationwide are facing as a result of rising energy costs. I have recently met with the Chief Executive of Freedom Leisure to discuss the current challenges for our Wealden sites, and I have been making representations to the Treasury on the matter.

I am very pleased that following my representations, the Chancellor recognised this difficult situation by announcing additional targeted support for leisure centres in the Spring Budget.

While I appreciate that the limited funding will be available to struggling pools across England and I would have welcomed an even greater package to guarantee support for our local facilities, I fully encourage Wealden District Council and East Sussex County Council to apply for this funding and secure this much-needed support for swimming pools in Wealden.

Responding to the East Sussex County Council's consultation is the only way to have your voices heard, and I urge you to share your views before the 10-week consultation period is over.

Best wishes,

Nusrat