ONE year on from Melksham Community Campus opening, Wiltshire Council says it is still searching for an operator to take on the café.
The Campus opened in August 2022 in the heart of the town, providing a state-of-the-art facility for residents to enjoy leisure activities. A café forms part of the development, however this has never been operational, which has raised complaints from residents who would benefit from using the facility.
One resident who waits for her daughter who has swimming lessons said, “I watch my daughter’s swimming lesson every week at the Campus and sit in the area overlooking the pool where a café is supposed to be. It’s quite disappointing that the campus has been open for so long, and yet the café still isn’t operational. There are always lots of parents and siblings watching the swimming lessons, so it would be great to have a café open for them instead of having to use the vending machines.”
After a year of searching for an operator through the usual tendering process, Wiltshire Council now says they are looking more locally.
Wiltshire Council cabinet member for leisure and facilities management, cllr Ian Blair-Pilling said, “Unfortunately, we have failed to secure a suitable supplier through our normal tendering process on two separate occasions.
“We are now trying a more localised approach; which has involved advertising in the community including within the Campus and have invited expressions of interest through a more streamlined route. We hope this will enable us to open the café and bring the centre to its full potential.”
Since the Campus opened in August last year, residents have been making use of a range of facilities and services under one roof including a gym, cycle and fitness studios, 25m pool and learner pool, sports hall and library. Melksham Without Parish Council also moved into the building.
