Riverside Ice & Leisure Centre has received national recognition from the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) in their prestigious Performance Networks quality awards. The Chelmsford City Council-run leisure facility was shortlisted for the ‘Best Performer’ award in the category of Sports and Leisure Facility Management.

Although the Centre narrowly missed out on winning the overall award, to be shortlisted from over 100 participating centres across the UK is an outstanding achievement and demonstrates Chelmsford City Council’s continued commitment to providing excellent customer services.

Chelmsford City Council's Cabinet Member for Leisure, Councillor Julia Jeapes, said: “To even be shortlisted for this national award is an amazing achievement and one which we can all be extremely proud of. These public sector awards recognise the very best in local authority services, driving excellence and continuous improvement through the delivery of value for money to customers.”

APSE Chief Executive, Paul O’Brien, said “The winners and finalists of these awards are proof that, despite the squeeze of austerity and continuous budget cuts, local councils can still offer excellent frontline services that successfully serve their communities. It is a pleasure to be working with these innovative, determined champions of local government.”

To find out more about the range of facilities on offer at all four of Chelmsford City Council’s sports centres, please visit www.chelmsford.gov.uk/sports