Promises and concerns as Falmouth's leisure centre shuts for good
We're told officials ARE committed to developing plans for an alternative leisure offering in the Falmouth area
There are concerns over the future of Pendennis headland and local leisure provision as Falmouth's Ships and Castles is closing its doors for the final time.
Cornwall Council's Cabinet stuck to their decision to shut the leisure centre despite a last minute review the day before closure.
The 'call-in' on Wednesday (30th March) had contended that officials did not previously have enough financial information about the various bids, and therefore could not make an informed decision to abandon the procurement process and close the centre.
The council’s Customer Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee met earlier in the week and agreed that Cabinet should revisit its decision.
However, after reviewing the bids and accompanying financial information, the Cabinet agreed that none were economically viable and reluctantly upheld the decision to cease the procurement process and close Ships and Castles, with a view to developing alternative options for leisure provision for the Falmouth and Penryn area.
Ships and Castles will close today (March 31st) and Cornwall Council says it will work with current operator GLL (Greenwich Leisure Limited) during the decommissioning process and provide support for affected staff.
Cabinet Portfolio holder for customers Richard Pears said: “We again want to thank those who have come forward to offer solutions after we committed to explore every avenue and involve local communities in what happens to their leisure centres.
“We are grateful for the hard work that went into the bids to keep Ship and Castles open, but unfortunately none were assessed as being economically viable.
“These are very difficult decisions that are also being faced by other local authorities. We must ensure our critical services and statutory obligations are met - bearing in mind that there is no statutory requirement for local authorities to provide leisure services.”
Councillor Pears added: “We are committed to continue to work with the community, partners and stakeholders to develop plans for an alternative leisure offering in the Falmouth area.”
The Council is currently working with the schools in Falmouth to ensure pupils are able to access swimming lessons in alternative venues.
The Council has already secured a way forward for Saltash Leisure Centre and we says it is continuing in efforts to appoint an operator for Wadebridge Leisure Centre.
The Council is working closely with the Coronation Park Trust to find a viable contractor to take on the leisure centre in Launceston from January 2023 when GLL will cease to operate the centre.
Gemma Adams is a swimming teacher and represents Pendennis Leisure, she told us she's devastated that Ships and Castles is closing and is worried about its users as well as the area.
She said: "On a personal level, I'm really sad, gutted, really genuinely concerned about the users of the centre, the children who have swimming lessons, the schools, the elderly, the disabled.
"I do wonder whether IF the centre had been on a different piece of land, would we be in the situation we are in now. I know there is a huge amount of worry and anxiety, and again people prepared to step in and act so that the headland doesn't get developed.
"If they're talking about a future leisure provision then yeah we want to be part of that, and it's vital that Falmouth and Penryn and everywhere else around us gets that facility. So if those are the conversations we need to be having with Cornwall Council now then we will."