A new Gym and Swim membership offer is being launched as part of the Derby Nottingham Metro initiative between Derby City Council and Nottingham City Council which is bringing benefits to residents in both cities.

The offer will mean people with council gym and swim membership in one city will also be able to get gym and swim membership in the other city so they can use council facilities there at no additional cost.

Jules Sebelin, a Derby resident and gym and swim member who works in Nottingham was the first to benefit from the offer receiving her Nottingham membership card at Victoria Leisure Centre from Councillor Dave Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture at Nottingham City Council and Councillor Amo Raju‌, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism at Derby City Council.

The Derby Nottingham Metro Strategy was launched in April this year aimed at strengthening co-operation between the two cities. Consultation confirmed public support for the idea with three quarters of people agreeing both cities would benefit from working together more closely.

The Strategy sets out a vision of what Derby and Nottingham City Councils want the area to look like by 2030 Key themes in include:

  • Enterprise– promoting Derby and Nottingham world-wide, supporting businesses to innovate and find new markets
  • Talent – ensuring a suitably skilled workforce through education and training
  • Connectivity – improving accessibility through better transport links
  • City Living – supporting a modern urban lifestyle and vibrant city centres through leisure, culture and sport

A special Metro Trentbarton bus ticket deal was the first to be offered as part of the Strategy with people travelling from one city to the other to attend a list of top summer events and attractions including the Splendour Festival in Nottingham and the Hannells Darley Park Concert in Derby receiving a £1 discount.

Councillor Dave Trimble said: “Leisure is an ideal area for us to look at how we can bring benefits to local people in both Derby and Nottingham through the two City Councils working more closely together.

“There are around 40,000 people who commute between the two cities to work. It makes good sense for us to offer gym and swim membership to Derby residents who work in Nottingham, and vice versa, so they can make use of the facilities at a time that suits them.”

Jules Sebelin agreed saying: “I think this is a great idea for people like me who live in one city but work in the other. I’m already a Derby gym and swim member so to have the flexibility to be able to use Nottingham’s facilities is a real bonus.“

Jules is pictured, right, with Councillor Dave Trimble, centre, and Councillor Amo Raju‌, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism at Derby City Council.

For more information about the Metro Gym and Swim offer, please visit: https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/leisure-centres-and-sport/join-us/membership-types/active-nottingham/#metro