Parking Refunds To Be Cut Back At Swallows

Swale Borough Council have decided to reduce the parking discounts available for leisure centre users at both Swallows Leisure Centre here in Sittingbourne and Sheppey Leisure Complex in Sheerness.

Despite warnings that people will go elsewhere for their fitness needs, with plenty of free parking options avaialable locally, the council's Housing and Health Committee Meeting discussed a range of options including the complete removal of car parking refunds, reducing the current arrangements by 50%, introducing a maximum of 1 hour refunds and only offering park refunds to concessionary members only. There was also an option to offer refunds at car parks further away from the centres to reduce overcrowding in key town centre car parks.  

However they voted for a new scheme where users will only be able to claim their cash back for the first hour – £1.50. The changes will come into force from Thursday 1st April 2027, after the current leisure contract with Swale Community Leisure Trust (who commissioned Serco Leisure to run day-to-day operations) ends on the 31st March 2027. Councillors also voted to extend the new scheme to user of Faversham Pools in the Central Car park in the town.

A spokesman for Swale Borough Council told SFM this would: “make sure everyone across the borough has access to discounted parking, while also remaining financially responsible. It will help us create fairness across our leisure sites and reduce the costs of these non-statutory services, as we work towards a balanced budget.”

Existing Swallows and Sheppey customers can get a refund of between 1 and 3 hours parking depending upon the activity they undertake and it only applies to sports and fitness activities and not play or commercial activities e.g. pool/hall hire or birthday parties/events.