Launceston Leisure Centre to close in the new year
Cornwall Council says there's no workable solution to keeping it open
It's been announced Launceston Leisure Centre will close in the new year.
Cornwall Council says it's been working to find a viable solution to keeping it open, since it was announced at the end of 2021 that it would be handing back the lease to the owners of the building, the Coronation Park Trust.
But it says has not been possible to do so and so Launceston Leisure Centre will close on January 23, 2023.
Cornwall Council portfolio holder for customers Richard Pears said: “We have been working with the trust to explore options to keep the leisure centre open once the lease is handed back to them in 2023.
"We have helped fund this year long extension in the hope that working together with the trust a solution could be found. Unfortunately, they have not been able to find a workable and affordable solution to keep the leisure centre in Launceston open.
“I would like to thank all the organisations and stakeholders involved for their efforts and commitment to trying to find a solution.
“We have said all along that the Council is not able to provide funding to keep leisure centres open.
“As we explained at the beginning of this process, we, alongside other local authorities, need to make some difficult decisions to 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.”
The council says it will support the trust and GLL to decommission the leisure centre in Launceston and provide support for the affected staff, as well as working with local schools to find alternative facilities for swimming lessons.