A freedom of information request to Wokingham borough council has revealed the Dinton Activity Centre made a financial loss of almost £150,000 in the last financial year – adding to a more than £137,00 loss in the previous year.
Cllr Katrin Harding, executive member for environment and climate emergency, told Wokingham Today: “Dinton Activity Centre is a key part of Dinton Pastures Country Park, which continues to deliver significant social and economic benefits to the local community.
”The activity centre attracts thousands of visitors each year and supports additional income streams for the park, including car parking and café sales.
“Overall, operations at Dinton Pastures Country Park, including the activity centre, generated a profit of approximately £740K in 2024/25.
“Beyond its economic contribution, the centre plays a vital role in providing inclusive access to outdoor activities.
“In the last financial year, we supported 164 children through the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme and hosted a special community day in April for around 200 guests.
“We also welcomed 76 school bookings from 38 different local schools, giving pupils the chance to experience a wide range of exciting activities they might not otherwise access.
“We are committed to building on this success.
“This year we have already generated around £80K in additional revenue through new public events such as a laser light show, jousting weekend, evening workshops and comedy nights, alongside growth in corporate meeting room hires and hospitality events at the activity centre.
“We are working with outdoor education experts to expand our activity centre offering, enhance the customer experience and deliver even greater value for the community in the years ahead.”
The centre opened on Sandford Lane in September 2021 at a cost £2.4 million and was the borough’s first net zero carbon building.
