People in Banbury, Oxfordshire, can get a 50 per cent discount on pay-as-you-go activities at Spiceball Leisure Centre through the Cherwell Link Card, a concessionary pass provided by Cherwell District Council.
The Cherwell Link Card halves the cost of some pay-as-you-go sessions — typically public swimming, gym sessions and fitness classes — for eligible residents. To qualify, applicants must live in the Cherwell district and meet one of the specified criteria: for example, Universal Credit claimants with Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA); Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment (DLA/PIP); Attendance Allowance; Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit; Employment Support Allowance (Support Group only); or holders of a Blue Badge. Residents may also be eligible on medical grounds if a GP, health professional or social services worker supports the application.
Residents can apply for the card through the Cherwell Link Card portal on the council website. Once approved, the card is posted within 15 working days and a new application must be made each year when the current card expires.
The discount can be used at Spiceball Leisure Centre and other local centres operated on behalf of the council by Legacy Leisure (a partner of Parkwood Leisure). The council says the scheme is part of its 2025/26 Health and Wellbeing strategy and wider budget approach to protect core community services while helping households facing rising costs.
As an example, a standard adult pay-as-you-go swim (around £5.50) would fall to roughly £2.65 under the Link Card, making pay-as-you-go use of the centre more affordable — particularly for people referred under GP exercise-on-referral programmes.
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