A LEISURE centre boss has refused to comment on plans to split from an East Lothian-wide fitness membership scheme – despite the move being announced to customers on notices in the centre and on their social media pages.

East Lothian Council-subsidised enjoyleisure runs sports centres and sports facilities across the county on behalf of the local authority.

These include the Aubigny Sports Centre, Haddington; Dunbar Leisure Pool; Loch Centre, Tranent; Meadowmill Sports Centre, by Tranent; Musselburgh Sports Centre and North Berwick Sports Centre.

An additional sports facility, The Mercat Gait Centre in Prestonpans, is managed on behalf of East Lothian Council by facilities management company FES.

For £32.50 per month, enjoyleisure fitness memberships give county residents unlimited access to the county’s gyms, swimming pools and fitness classes – and membership includes use of the Mercat Gait Centre’s facilities.

But posters placed around the Prestonpans centre say it will no longer be part of the enjoyleisure scheme from July 1 and will launch its own membership scheme – sparking fears that users will be charged more for unlimited access to all the county’s sports centres.

The announcement appeared to catch East Lothian Council, enjoyleisure and even the centre’s own management off-guard.

Tony McHenry, operations manager for FES FM Ltd, told the Courier they were not yet in a position to reveal any details of their new scheme.

He said: “We cannot comment yet, at this stage we are just taking customers’ details.”

The statement said: “From July 1 the Mercat Gait Centre will no longer be part of the enjoyleisure membership scheme. We are delighted to announce that we will have our own membership scheme which will best suit the customers of the MGC.

“To continue your membership with the Mercat Gait Centre, simply speak with reception staff and they will process your details.

“We look forward to seeing you in the centre and thank you for your continued support.”

No additional details – or its potential financial implications for existing fitness scheme users – were given.

Bill Axon, general manager of enjoyleisure, said he was disappointed the announcement had been made while negotiations were ongoing.

He told the Courier: “It is extremely unfortunate that information regarding the enjoyleisure membership scheme and its future relationship with the Mercat Gait/FES is in the public domain.

“I can confirm that discussions remain ongoing with key stakeholders regarding this matter. This includes East Lothian Council, as FES manage the Mercat Gait swimming pool on their behalf.

“We will, without question, be writing to all enjoyleisure members when we are in a position to update them fully on the outcome of these discussions.”

And an East Lothian Council statement would only say: “Discussions on the membership scheme for the Mercat Gait going forward are continuing between enjoyleisure, FES and the council. Enjoyleisure will update members thereafter.”

The implications of the split remain unclear and, despite announcing it on its Facebook page on Monday, the Mercat Gait has remained silent as concerned users have asked what this will mean to their current subscriptions and whether it will cost them more.

The Mercat Gait’s website currently states that it is “proud to be in partnership with enjoyleisure, who manage the majority of the leisure centres in East Lothian, so when you purchase a membership with the Mercat Gait Centre this will give you access to other centres in East Lothian”.

Councillor Lachlan Bruce, ward member, said he hoped a deal would be agreed to benefit users of the facilities.

He said: “I know the aspiration of the council, enjoyleisure and myself as an individual councillor is to have facilities in East Lothian that are open, easily accessed and cheap for all of the public to enjoy; I would hope that FES would share those aspirations as well and work with enjoyleisure and the council to achieve that aspiration.”

The Mercat Gait was opened in 2005 as part of a PPP finance deal.