A commitment to achieve the first Net Zero leisure support hub in Wealden by 2023 has been welcomed.
Freedom Leisure operates leisure centres across the country including venues in Hailsham and Crowborough in partnership with Wealden District Council. The not-for-profit leisure trust has its headquarters/ leisure support hub in East Hoathly and has launched its Environmental and Sustainability Commitments, targeting net zero across its operation by 2030.
Freedom Leisure will achieve net zero at its first leisure centre within their portfolio and at the support hub in East Hoathly by 2024. Leisure centres can contribute as much as 40 per cent of a council’s carbon footprint and Freedom Leisure is actively playing its part in helping its local authority partners to realise their net zero targets. Ambitious targets have been set to reduce carbon in all its leisure centres and supply chain, reduce waste, increase recycling while adopting renewable energy sources.
Philip Lunn, Wealden District Council’s portfolio holder for community and public health, said, “We welcome the work Freedom Leisure is doing to achieve net zero at its support hub in Wealden by March 2023 and across its wider operation by 2030. It complements new measures being introduced while investment is being made at Wealden’s own leisure facilities.”
Ivan Horsfall Turner, Freedom Leisure’s CEO, said, “Through these commitments we aim to play our part in reducing emissions and contributing to the global target. “We acknowledge that we cannot do this in isolation and are committed to supporting and working alongside our partners in the public sector, as well as our suppliers and customers to ensure that through a collective journey we make this happen.”
To strengthen its focus, Freedom Leisure recently announced the appointment of Angela Brown as sustainability and environmental manager, who will play a key role in driving the sustainability and environmental efforts in more than 100 leisure facilities across England and Wales. Angela said, “To reach our net zero target, we have developed our commitments to accelerate our pace and scale so that we meet, if not surpass, our ambitious environmental targets. “Our core business of supporting healthy lifestyles goes beyond just people’s physical activity goals but extends to our communities and the environment. It is therefore becoming crucial for us to do everything we can to play our part in tackling the global climate crisis.”
