THE company behind Southend’s major leisure centre has been criticised for continuing to take £10 per month from members throughout the pandemic... and then relying on a £1million council bailout to keep going.

Tory leader Tony Cox slammed Fusion Lifestyle, which manages Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre, in Eastern Avenue - including Swim England swimming lessons for primary school children - for continuing to charge its members throughout lockdown when all the facilities were closed to the public.

His criticism comes ahead of a scrutiny committee on Monday which will see councillors probe the cash injection.

Mr Cox also said it was “totally unacceptable” that the centre remained closed for more than a month after the Prime Minister gave gyms the green light to re-open.

He said: “I don’t think it’s acceptable of how much money has been spent for such a poor leisure offer. It’s the [major] centre in the borough and even then it was open late and we’ve given them near enough £1million.

"They were taking £10 a month from all members while they were closed - it’s disgusting.”

Two tranches of aid has given to the firm, with £400,000 in July and £600,000 in August.

The firm is also facing claims it is making a number of staff redundant.

The company has confirmed “changes to staffing levels and ways of working” are being examined.

A spokesman for Fusion said: “With little support from central Government, we, like other operators, have undertaken a comprehensive restructure to allow us to continue to operate and keep the business sustainable, we need to make changes to staffing levels and ways of working.

"We are currently in consultation with our staff to take on board their views and ideas and come up with the best solution.”

A spokesman for Southend Swimming Club said: “We are on a reduced timetable at the moment, and one of the reasons we were told we couldn’t have the evening water time back and the club has been so restricted on the times it can have, is because of a lack of staff, so that’s why when we heard there’s redundancies we thought ‘why?’”