One Of UK’s Leading Dry Slopes Threatened With Closure

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:56:26 GMT

Ski Rossendale's dry ski slope in Lancashire could be closed in a review of council-owned leisure centres. Rossendale Council is considering the future of what is now known as The Hill Ski Centre as part of a new review of all leisure facilities managed by Rossendale Leisure Trust.

The dry‑slope centre, which opened in 1973, is described in a council report as providing clear community benefit but facing significant financial and operational constraints. The centre features a 200-metre long main dry ski slope, making it one of the longest in the North West. The venue operates three slopes, including a 60-metre intermediate slope and a 25-metre beginner nursery slope.

The council review has looked at running costs, loan commitments and customer income across the trust's portfolio, which is funded through a mix of council support, Sport England and the Heritage Lottery Fund. According to the report, the trust operates a "diverse and ageing" network of sites, limiting its ability to focus on areas with the strongest financial return.

The document recommends that Rossendale Leisure Trust concentrate on gym, sport and physical‑activity facilities, while alternative options should be explored for The Hill.

The report states that The Hill carries GBP39,000 of an inter‑company loan and that its current layout restricts opportunities to diversify. The nursery slope is already used for skiing and tubing, leaving little space for new activities without significant investment. It adds that while the centre delivers "genuine community benefit", its ability to expand is limited, external investment prospects are low, and the financial case for major redevelopment "does not stand up" against realistic income projections.

However, any decision to close the facility would also need to address a GBP470,000 Sport England grant, which includes claw‑back provisions requiring detailed legal and financial advice. The report describes decisions about the slope's future as "genuinely difficult" and says further studies would be required to support a clear long‑term position.

The centre previously faced closure in 2011, then operating as Ski Rossendale, the centre shut temporarily after Rossendale Borough Council withdrew funding. Volunteers and supporters subsequently formed a social enterprise to take over operations, refurbishing the 38‑year‑old facility and reopening it in September 2011. The centre has continued to operate under the new model and marked its 50th anniversary in 2023.

The review notes that the trust's current range of sites reflects its development over many years but now says that now presents "real challenges" in prioritising resources. It argues there is an opportunity to re‑orient the trust toward its core purpose of physical activity, sport and leisure. The Hill is described as a "unique leisure asset", but one that requires strategic clarity. Councillors are due to consider the findings next Wednesday, May 6.

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One Of UK’s Leading Dry Slopes Threatened With Closure