A NEW era has begun in the provision of sport and leisure in the Chilterns with the launch of an independent body formed to run the services.

A NEW era has begun in the provision of sport and leisure in the Chilterns with the launch of an independent body formed to run the services.

At a launch ceremony attended by the High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, Martin Jourdan, and MP Cheryl Gillan, Chiltern District Council transferred the services to the Chiltern Leisure Trust on Sunday.

The trust, a private non-profit making body, will now have the responsibility to manage The Chiltern Pools, Chesham Leisure Centre and Chalfont Leisure Centre. It will also run Physique Amersham, The Climb in Amersham, community play services, sports and leisure development, and Physique Chalfont which was also opened on Sunday.

The services have been leased to the body for 21 years. The council will retain its strategic role and provide grant aid to help the organisation run services to a set standard.

Council chairman Cllr Don Phillips said: 'The reason why we have taken this major step is because we feel these days the public have very high aspirations for the leisure facilities and we need a organisation that can respond very quickly to that.'

The trust will be managed by a board of directors chaired by Ralph Peters and Tom Clitherow, former Chiltern district community and leisure services chief officer, has been appointed chief executive.