Leisure operator GLL is in the mood for celebration after picking up two major contracts in quick succession.

The not-for-profit leisure provider has been awarded long-term leases for six of Swindon’s leisure facilities – joining the Oasis Leisure Centre which it already runs in Swindon. From 1 November, GLL will run Croft Sports Centre, Delta Tennis Centre, Dorcan Recreation Complex, Haydon Centre, Health Hydro and the Link Centre.

The long-term leases with Swindon Borough Council will see GLL make an initial £3m investment of its own funds to enhance facilities and services across the borough, in addition to £2m of investment in the facilities from the local authority. The decision to appoint GLL was prompted by Swindon Borough Council’s need to make significant savings over the next three years and will result in a saving of approximately £1.4m in annual subsidies.

Meanwhile in the north of the country, GLL has announced a new merger deal with Carlisle Leisure Limited (CLL), to operate all of the leisure and sporting facilities in Carlisle and Allerdale from 1 Februrary, 2015. The merger was announced after staff of CLL – an Industrial Provident Sociey – voted overwhelmingly in favour of the move during an annual staff meeting this September.

CLL has been operating Carlisle City Council’s and Allerdale Borough Council’s leisure facilities – including the Sands Centre and James Street Baths – and the merger means its sites will now see the introduction of GLL’s standardised leisure card scheme and concessionary pricing structure that will include discounts for students and disabled users. Talented athletes across Carlisle and Allerdale will also be able to access funding from the GLL Sport Foundation, which aims to support and develop young athletes to achieve their sporting dreams.

“GLL is very pleased that the staff of CLL voted overwhelmingly to join the GLL family, where we bring a strong focus on increasing physical activity, reducing health inequalities and improving social inclusion,” said GLL managing director Mark Sesnan.

“This is a great opportunity for CLL to team up with the UK’s largest and most successful leisure charitable social enterprise - keeping local jobs and local governance, whilst benefitting from the knowledge, experience and economies of scale of GLL.”

The CLL sporting facilities that will be operated by GLL as part of the merger include: Bitts Park, The Pools Swimming & Health Centre, Cockermouth Leisure Centre, The Sands Leisure Centre, Trinity Leisure Centre, Keswick Leisure Pool, Sheepmount Athletics Stadium, Workington Leisure Centre, and The Wave Centre.