'They should re-think it': Packed meeting expected on Catmose Sports Centre closure
The public have been invited to question Rutland County Council over the decision
Last updated 6th Feb 2023
Rutland residents will be able to have their say after it was announced Catmose Sports Centre would close to general access next month.
At a "full capacity" meeting tonight, members of the public are set to question Rutland County Council over the decision.
It's after a petition to "Save Catmose Sports Centre" reached thousands of signatures in less than a week.
Andrea Gordon-Kerr has been a founding member of the facility since it opened in 2011 - she says it's an important part of the local community:
'Everybody missed the gym and the pool and the facilities at Catmose Sports Centre during the pandemic, which highlighted how important it was for people's physical and mental health.'
'Some of our members live on their own and so actually to come to a centre to exercise together, to chat, is part of their mental and physical health.'
'Their gym group is their social support group as well - it's a community, it's not just a exercise facility for fitness fanatics, it's a real community of people that actually help and support each other.'
Community groups and sports clubs
Over the weekend, Rutland County Council released a statement:
“Rutland County Council and Catmose College are taking forward joint proposals that will – if approved by both organisations – allow many local community groups and sports clubs to keep using facilities at the college site after the closure of Catmose Sports Centre.
“The Council is intending to use one-off funding allocated for sport, leisure and recreation to enable Catmose College to sustain community access beyond March 2023. Importantly, this would not impact on the Council’s revenue budget or increase financial pressure on the authority.
“The College is looking carefully at what is needed to administer community access after 31 March, which would then allow the Council to finalise its support package. Further details will follow in due course.”