AN unpopular advance booking benefit of a new Plus Membership introduced at Skipton's council-run leisure centre for those willing to pay an extra £5 is being suspended following complaints, says North Yorkshire Council.
The changes to Active North Yorkshire memberships are being brought in to provide a 'consistent offer' across all Active North Yorkshire sites, including the centre in Aireville Park, Skipton.
But the introduction of a new Plus Membership on October 5, which includes access to private GP appointments, dietary advice and mental health support - as well as 10-days advance booking for in-centre classes - was described by unhappy Skipton members as 'two-tier membership'.
Skipton leisure centre members, who had already seen membership fees increase, complained to their area councillors, said it was wrong to give access to already oversubscribed exercise classes by a 'privileged tier' and launched a petition - which currently stands at more than 660 signatures - calling on the council to reconsider.
On Friday, all members of North Yorkshire Council received an email from the council's head of Sport and Active Wellbeing about the decision to suspend the 10-days advance booking part of the Plus membership after November 20.
The email to members reads: "We introduced the Plus membership October 5 and it was initially well received.
However, in recent weeks, particularly in the Skipton locality, we've received complaints about the membership, mainly in relation to the problems members are experiencing with the advance booking system, which is operated through our new leisure management system and customer app.
"I know some councillors have been contacted directly by unhappy customers and there has also been a petition established against what Skipton customers are referring to as 'two-tier membership'.
"Following customer feedback and ongoing technical issues, we are suspending the 10 days advance booking benefit, and it will not be included as part of the Plus membership after November 20.
"We understand that advance booking is an important feature for many customers.
However, due to the issues affecting fair and equal access to group exercise bookings, we are temporarily removing the benefit while we work with our software providers to investigate and resolve the problems."
The council's head of Sport and Active Wellbeing continues that it is the intention to reintroduce the 10-day advance booking benefit 'in due course', subject to the successful resolution of the issues.
The council is contacting Active North Yorkshire members to let them know and those who currently have the Plus Membership will receive detailed information about their options, including how to cancel their Plus membership and revert back to Premium or Core membership.
If they decide to stay with Plus membership, their advance booking privilege will finish after November 29.
Councillor Simon Myers, who represents Mid-Craven on North Yorkshire Council, said: "We have listened to the concerns of our customers and we are aware of the difficulties caused by the introduction of the new leisure management system."
Cllr Andy Brown, who represents Aire Valley, said: "I am so pleased that North Yorkshire Council has eventually listened to its customers and council tax payers and decided to drop some of its highly unpopular changes to booking systems at our Leisure Centre in Skipton. I remain so very cross that a remote bureaucracy thought up this idea and implemented it without realising the stress it would cause to loyal users of the service."
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