LOSING council subsidy, increased utility costs and the introduction of the Living Wage have all contributed to changes which have left many leisure centre users across Tynedale facing huge price hikes.

But despite the public backlash to the new charges introduced on November 1, the chief executive of Active Northumberland says the organisation gained 1,000 new members in November, compared with 560 in the same month last year.

Lorraine Dewison told a meeting of Hexham Town Council on Monday that introducing the changes, aimed at making prices at leisure centres across the county fairer for all, was always going to be "painful".

"When I took over in June I was presented with a file several inches thick of cases where people, using exactly the same facilities, were paying anything from £11 to £40 per month because agreements had never been updated," she said.

"But we've been under pressure to do this, and as quickly as possible, because we have to stand alone.

"Due to central Government funding cuts the council is going to remove our subsidy.

"I know many people were upset initially but they are now beginning to understand why we've had to do this."

Coun. Stephen Ball said: "I sympathise with you as an individual having to defend this, but I don't buy the bogeyman cuts explanation.

"Leisure services are not a priority for the county council which seems to be distancing itself from Active Northumberland at the same time as wanting control."

Coun. Homer said she felt there had been a number of "schoolboy errors" with the way the changes had been communicated and had serious concerns about those who had been "priced out" of using the Wentworth Leisure Centre in Hexham.

"Here in Hexham we've been given the impression that, although Wentworth is not making much money, it's certainly washing it's own face, so to be faced with this was unexpected," said Mayor of Hexham, Coun. Trevor Cessford, who expressed concerns that the facility could be subsidising others in Northumberland making losses.

Mrs Dewison said: "In an ideal world, and with hindsight, we would have liked to carry out more consultation, but we have to become self-financing.

"I apologise that there wasn't more time to explain the reasons."

She addressed concerns levelled directly at her by Hexham's Gill Kennedy, who spoke passionately about the level of angst an increase from £9 to £20 for swimming lessons has caused her nine-year-old son, Oscar, who has special needs.

"I know probably a dozen families in the same position and we've had no contact and no explanation as to why our children, who are already disadvantaged, seem to be affected the most," said Mrs Kennedy.

Mrs Dewison said: "I appreciate this is a massive jump, but the charges need to reflect the costs we have to bear, and they haven't gone up year on year as they should have done."

At a meeting held on November 30, where Active Northumberland board members considered a petition featuring almost 1,000 names calling for consultation on the changes, it was agreed to introduce a £26 per month membership for under 21s and a concessionary membership, which would apply to those referred for health reasons by their GP.