Petition started to save Redlands Indoor Sports Centre in Weymouth
Weymouth College say they can no longer afford its upkeep, with the indoor sports centre due to close next year
More than 800 people have signed a petition to save the indoor facilities at Redlands Community Sports hub in Weymouth from closure.
Pete Barrow, a regular user of the facilities and classes there, set it up after concerns from other members.
Weymouth College say they can longer afford to finance the Sports Hub and will be closing the indoor leisure centre by July 2022.
READ: Redlands indoor leisure centre to close by July 2022
That's despite prospective new tenants being found to take over the outdoor facilities, which will be staying open.
The sports facility based in Broadwey, Weymouth has been operated by Weymouth College since 2008.
Rob Cole, Vice Principal (Finance) at Weymouth College said, "The College has been proud to serve the local sporting community for over 13 years but this has come at cost, with running and capital investment of over £2m of Further Education funding by the College."
A valued local facility
Pete Barrow says closing Redlands doesn't make sense if the government and Dorset Council are encouraging more people to get and remain fit and healthy.
"The provision of a wide range of sporting facilities is essential to ensure as many residents as possible can keep active.
"Redlands has provided a wide range of sports facilities for many years and is a valued local facility that the town needs. The decision to close the site in the summer of 2022 is going to seriously reduce the provision of sports facilities in the area.
"The site is owned by Dorset Council and leased to Weymouth College so both organisations are in a position to work together to keep the site open. So we are asking for the site to be kept open whilst a longer term plan for its future is worked out."
You can sign the petition here.