FUSION Lifestyle, the charity that has taken over running leisure centres in the South Hams and West Devon, has officially signed on the dotted line.

Last week South Hams and West Devon Councils’ executive director Steve Jorden joined councillors and Fusion’s management team and trustees at Ivybridge Leisure Centre to formally award the charity the contract.

Fusion provides sport, leisure and fitness activities and facilities to local communities, and has been operating across the UK since 2000. All profits generated by the organisation are reinvested in facilities and service improvement.

The partnership between Fusion Lifestyle and the councils will last 25 years, and both sides are promising investment and development of the leisure centres.

South Hams’ Cllr Hilary Bastone said: ’Signing the contract moves us into a new era for leisure. These services are incredibly important to our customers and South Hams and West Devon share a vision of good quality leisure and wellbeing facilities for all in the community.

’Sealing and signing this contract is a significant step toward fulfilling this vision.’

West Devon councillor Robert Sampson added: ’Today marks a milestone for leisure in West Devon and the South Hams as we start a long term contract with Fusion. We look forward to working with Fusion, who we are certain will maintain and enhance our leisure and wellbeing facilities.’

Fusion chief executive Peter Kay added: ’We operate over 90 diverse sports and leisure facilities across the UK and it is a privilege to take over the running of these incredibly popular and important sites in Devon. This will be an exciting new chapter for Fusion’s team and we look forward to welcoming everyone to experience what we offer.’

Fusion has said it will build a new six lane, 25 metre pool at the Ivybridge centre by 2019.

Earlier this year, the charity said it will provide more details on the new pool, and its planned refurbishment of the Ivybridge centre early next year.

It also confirmed it will be looking at developing the existing centre, rather than building on a new site - putting paid to rumours that a completely new centre was to be built on an adjacent, South Hams Council-owned car park.

But Fusion also insisted its first priority was to look after existing staff members at the South Hams centres.

Tone Leisure’s contract ended at the end of November, with Fusion taking over from December 1. The charity will take over responsibility for leisure centres in Ivybridge, Dartmouth and Kingsbridge in the South Hams, as well as Meadowlands and Parklands in West Devon Council’s area.