SOUTH Hams Council has revealed the three organisations shortlisted to take over running leisure centres in the district from December.

Tone Leisure, which has operated the centres in Ivybridge, Kingsbridge, Totnes and Dartmouth since 2006, has said it was disappointed not to be among the chosen three after a competitive tendering process.

It’s contract with South Hams Council comes to an end on November 30.

The three organisations in the running to take over are Fusion Lifestyle, Parkwood Leisure, and Sports and Leisure Management – more commonly known as Everyone Active.

South Hams Council is running the procurement process jointly with West Devon Borough Council, and the successful bidder will also control centres in Okehampton and Tavistock.

The two councils say they want future facilities to run in a way which delivers tangible community and health outcomes, but is also ’cost effective’.

Organisations interested in running the council-owned leisure centres were asked to submit initial detailed proposals to the two authorities in late 2015.

The contract is being awarded through a ’competitive dialogue’, where bidders work with council officers to develop their proposals. South Hams Council said the timetable for the process is ’on track’.

South Hams district councillor Hilary Bastone said: ’During the competitive dialogue we are not in a position to comment on any of the proposals which are put forward as these will continue to change as we move through the final stages of the project. We know how important leisure facilities are to our communities and they will be key to a  healthy long term partnership with the successful bidder.’