Councillors want to force a vote on leisure centre closures in Cornwall
Five sites are currently at risk under plans for a new leisure strategy
Independent councillors at Cornwall Council say they want to force a vote on keeping leisure centres in Cornwall open.
Cornwall Council is currently considering a new leisure strategy which has been drawn up after leisure centre operator GLL said it could no longer keep five facilities open.
Ships & Castles in Falmouth, leisure centres in Launceston, Saltash and Wadebridge and the hydrotherapy pool in St Austell are all at risk of closure.
The council says that under its new strategy it wants to ensure that residents live no more than a 30-minute drive from leisure facilities such as swimming pools.
However the council says that it has no budget for leisure services, which are not a statutory requirement, and says that unless alternative ways of funding the centres can be found they will close, starting next year.
The possible closures have prompted a passionate response from local people who have been holding demonstrations and public meetings in a bid to save their local leisure centres.
Town councils have also responded to the consultation saying that they want to keep the centres open and have criticised the council’s approach. Truro and Falmouth MP Cherilyn Mackrory has also called on the council to delay any closure of the Falmouth centre.
Now the Independent group at Cornwall Council has included the closure of leisure centres as one of its “red lines” in the council’s forthcoming budget which it says should not be crossed.
While the decision on the future of the leisure centres is to be made by the council’s Cabinet the Independent group says that it should form part of the budget plans which have to be approved with a vote by full council.
They are calling on the council to provide funding for the centres so that they can remain open.
Explaining their call they state: “The cost to keep all leisure centres open in Cornwall is less than one pound for each person living in Cornwall. Leisure centres are extremely important to communities in Cornwall and have a valuable role to play in society.
“Whilst there is a clear connection between low levels of physical activity and an increased occurrence of certain health issues, there are other important reasons why higher levels of physical activity will have a positive effect on the overall health and wellbeing of a community.
“Sport England reports that access to leisure facilities can help reduce anxiety, stress or depression. They improve confidence/self-esteem and bring together people from diverse backgrounds.”
Independent councillor Tim Dwelly said that the group wants to force the Conservative administration to have a vote on the issue to stop the centres from being closed.
Cornwall Council’s Cabinet is set to receive a report on the issue and make a decision when it meets next month.