THREE bidders have been shortlisted for a contract to run leisure facilities across Test Valley for the next 30 years.

Test Valley Borough Council says it has cut the number of bidders from five to three as they enter the final stage of their procurement process for the new leisure contract.

The authority owns a number of public leisure buildings across Test Valley, but contracts out the operation of those facilities to a private group.

Registered charity Valley Leisure is the council’s current leisure provider, operating facilities across the borough such as Andover Leisure Centre and the Romsey Rapids.

However their contract is due to come to an end in March 2017.

TVBC is currently undertaking a procurement process, under guidelines from Sport England, to secure a new contract for the facilities. The 30-year deal will run until 2047.

Valley Leisure have confirmed they have submitted a bid to continue running the service, but TVBC were unable to confirm names of other bidders.

Multinational security firm G4S were previously rumoured to have been involved with the bidding process but a company spokesperson has since denied the claims.

The prospective operators will now submit a detailed tender, with the final preferred bidder being presented to the TVBC cabinet in October.

TVBC community and leisure portfolio holder, Cllr Tony Ward, said: “We have some fantastic leisure facilities in the borough and we look forward to working with the successful bidder.”