Saltash leisure centre saved from closure
But the future of four other sites across Cornwall remains uncertain
One of the leisure centres in Cornwall which was threatened with closure has been saved, however a question remains over the future of four other facilities.
Cornwall Council’s Cabinet was told today that discussions with operator GLL had taken place right up until last night and agreement had been reached for Saltash Leisure Centre to remain open under the company.
The Cabinet was discussing proposals for GLL to alter its current contract to run leisure facilities including leisure centres in Saltash, Falmouth, Launceston and Wadebridge along with the hydrotherapy pool in St Austell.
Whilst Saltash has been saved from closure there are still no guarantees that the other facilities will continue to operate.
However, Richard Pears, Cabinet member responsible for leisure, said that the council would continue to work with community groups and leisure centre operators which have come forward with an interest in taking on the at-risk services.
Cllr Pears said that there were eight expressions of interest and that negotiations would continue with those groups with a report set to come back to the Cabinet in February.
In addition the Cabinet has agreed to provide money which could be used for transition costs to enable new operators to come in to take on the threatened services.
Cllr Pears said that he was “pleased” that the council had been able to reach agreement with GLL to keep Saltash Leisure Centre open.
He told the Cabinet that the issues facing leisure services were not unique to Cornwall and were being experienced across the country.
Cllr Pears said that a drop in membership numbers and the impact of forced closure during the pandemic had hit GLL hard with losses of around ÂŁ4.5million.
He added: “No one wants to see leisure centres closed and we want to explore every option to avoid that.”
The Cabinet member welcomed the interest from community groups to take on the threatened services and said that no councillors “underestimate the benefits of fitness and exercise”.
But he added: “The evidence shows that many of those who would benefit from leisure centres are not the ones using them.”
Cllr Pears highlighted again that there is no council budget available for leisure services and stressed that leisure centres are not a statutory requirement for councils to provide.
Dick Cole, leader of Mebyon Kernow and a member of the scrutiny committee which considered the issue last week, asked Cllr Pears to give a guarantee that no leisure centres would close.
Cllr Pears replied: “I cannot rule out closure, absolutely not I’m afraid.”
Under the recommendations agreed by the Cabinet GLL will be allowed to stop running the leisure centres in Falmouth, Launceston and Wadebridge and the hydrotherapy pool in St Austell from April 2022.
Councillors also agreed to continue working with those groups and organisations which have expressed interest in taking over the threatened services and to provide funding for transition costs if required.
They have also agreed that any capital funding which had previously been agreed for the at-risk centres would be available for any new operators to access.
And they have agreed to allow more work to be done in bringing forward the new leisure strategy for the council – which aims to have a leisure centre and pool within a 30-minute drive of all residents.
In addition Cllr Pears said that discussions were also ongoing about the hydrotherapy pool in particular with the NHS and the Merlin Centre involved to try and find the best way forward.
The Cabinet agreed to the recommendations unanimously.