Life Leisure has now formally confirmed that its lease to operate Stockport Sports Village will end on 1 April 2026, and that as a result the gym, H1VE and studio fitness classes will close. Responsibility for the site will transfer away from Life Leisure, with Stockport County taking over community football lettings, and the Council pursuing a long-term vision focused on education and academy use.

This update confirms the core concern behind this petition: public fitness provision at one of the largest leisure facilities in the area is being removed, despite serving over 3,000 members and having no comparable alternative nearby. While Life Leisure has highlighted access to other hubs, many members — particularly older residents — have already made clear that relocating to other sites is not a realistic or acceptable substitute for a facility they rely on locally for their physical and mental wellbeing.

Crucially, this decision has been taken without meaningful public consultation, despite the site being owned by Stockport Council, developed with public and community funding, and intended as a long-term community asset. The Council has still not explained:

• how this deal was structured
• what financial value is being realised
• where any money received will go
• or how the loss of a major public gym is being justified or mitigated.

Decisions affecting public facilities, grassroots sport, and community health should not be made behind closed doors. This includes the displacement of community users and grassroots football, and the removal of everyday, accessible fitness provision that plays a vital role in preventing isolation and supporting long-term health.

We also believe that a football club rooted in its community should be adding to local health and wellbeing provision, not benefiting from decisions that reduce it. Gyms are not a luxury — they are essential infrastructure for physical health, mental wellbeing, and social connection.

This petition therefore remains active and urgent. We are calling for:

• full transparency from Stockport Council on the finances and decision-making
• accountability for the loss of public leisure provision
• guarantees that community health and wellbeing are not sacrificed without proper scrutiny

Please continue to share this petition, contact councillors, MPs, and local media, and ask the simple question that still has not been answered:

How does closing one of Stockport’s largest public gyms serve the best interests of the community?

Thank you to everyone who has signed and supported this campaign — your voices are being heard, and they matter.