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# Council confirms 'heavy' leisure price increases
- URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/council-confirms-heavy-leisure-price-increases/
- Published: 2024-11-08T11:14:27.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-16T15:30:51.000Z
- Description: Ipswich Borough Council has announced significant price increases across its sports and leisure facilities, with some fees rising by more than 50% from 1 November 2024.
- Author: Oliver Rouane-Williams
- Tags: News, Entertainment & Leisure, Councils, #article, Ipswich Borough Council, #Import 2026-03-16 14:46

**Why it matters:** The changes will affect thousands of regular users across Ipswich's council-run facilities, with some of the steepest increases hitting family swimming sessions and gym memberships.

**The big picture:** Council officials say the rises are needed due to inflation, rising utility costs and staff pay increases.

- The decision aims to reduce council subsidies for leisure services
- Changes affect both casual users and members

![Crown Pools](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/03/1725349601-crown-pools-2-jpeg-2.jpg)

The cost a family swim is rising by £3.30 to £20.30 at Crown Pools in Ipswich Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams (Ipswich.co.uk)

**By the numbers:**

- Family swim tickets rising by £3.30 to £20.30
- Full gym, swim and classes membership increasing by £12.40 to £50.90 per month
- Casual gym sessions up by £2.60 to £10.10
- Swimming lessons increasing by up to £10.50 per session

**Yes, but:** Some residents have expressed concerns about the scale and timing of the increases. One iCard holder told Ipswich.co.uk: "The communication has been very quiet to iCard holders. For a county and town in dire need of improving health and fitness, these increases just feel too heavy and too quickly implemented."

**The bottom line:** The new prices take effect from 1 November, giving users just over three weeks' notice of the changes. The council says it has benchmarked its charges against other local facilities.

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