Four leisure centres in Cornwall could be under threat of closure due to funding pressures
Four leisure centres in Cornwall could be under threat of closure due to funding pressures
Last updated 17th Sep 2021
Four of Cornwall’s leisure centres could face closure unless new funding can be provided for them.
Centres in Falmouth, Launceston, Saltash and Wadebridge are all under threat under proposals being considered by Cornwall Council, according to reports. Several Cornwall councillors have expressed concerns about the plans and said on Facebook that they were expecting to get details next week.
The future of the leisure centres are said to be the subject of high-level meetings of the council’s Cabinet as it considers its budget plans for the coming year.
All four leisure centres are currently run by GLL – under the identity of Better – as part of a major outsourcing contract agreed by the council in a bid to reduce the amount of money it spends on leisure services.
But with leisure centre incomes having been hit hard by their forced closure during the Covid-19 pandemic it has been increasingly difficult to balance their budgets.
GLL was provided with ÂŁ4m from the council to help cover its costs and ensure that leisure centres in Cornwall could reopen when restrictions were eased. That money was said to be a loan which would have to be repaid.
Cornwall Council has not denied that leisure centres could close but said that public consultation about the future of leisure services would start next week.
One of the measures which is understood to be considered would be to merge some services – such as those in Bodmin and Wadebridge.
Provision of leisure services is not a statutory requirement for local councils and so can often be seen as an easy way to cut expenditure.
However any closures are likely to face opposition from people in the towns affected, especially as it would mean the end of facilities such as swimming pools which are used to provide swimming lessons for schools and clubs.
North Cornwall MP Scott Mann, whose constituency has two of the leisure centres under threat, said that he believed it would be better for the centres to be run by the community.
Camelford Leisure Centre is operated in this way and the Conservative MP said that it could be a way of keeping them open.
On his Facebook page he said: “I was never a fan of the current contract which was signed by the previous Lib Dem led council administration. Their failure to plan forward is one of the reasons we find ourselves in the position we are in today.
"Ten years ago, when I was on the old district council, I supported the Camelford Leisure Centre to become owned and operated by a local benefit society. I think we have an opportunity to learn from that project and perhaps do the same with Wadebridge and Launceston.
"I have spoken to the Cabinet member in the new administration today and put across my ideas and the view of my constituents who want to keep both sites open.
"These centres have an enormously wide value to society – GPs recognise their importance in terms of social prescribing and so on.
“This is the time for creative solutions, Launceston Leisure Centre is run by a charity and there is an opportunity to get the asset transferred back under local ownership as a not-for-profit".
A spokesperson for Cornwall Council said: “Next week, Cornwall Council will launch a consultation with residents, local councils and community groups about the future of leisure services in Cornwall.
“We know that leisure facilities matter to our communities and although the pandemic has hit finances hard, our proposals will aim to provide a wide range of leisure facilities that are accessible, affordable and provide best value for money for the people who use them.
“We will ensure this is a thorough consultation where all communities can have their say and we will be very keen to hear from any community groups or organisations that may be interested in working with us.”
GLL said that they would not comment further than the statement from Cornwall Council.