There'll be a full Council meeting to decide if Deepings Leisure Centre will close

it was decided in a Cabinet meeting earlier

Meeting
Author: Julie CastonPublished 17th Aug 2021

A Council Cabinet Meeting this afternoon decided all councillors should get the chance to have their say on the potential closure of Deepings Leisure Centre.

Protests have taken place in the area urging the council to keep the building open. A report said the current facility at Deeping St James urgently needs significant repairs costing over a million pounds.

The preferred option is to close the building permanently and look at a potential replacement.

South Kesteven District Council's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Leisure, Councillor Barry Dobson, said: "No councillor underestimates the significant impact that closing the leisure centre will have on the local community, clubs and groups, and the school which shares the use of the facility. Given the significance and urgency of the decision, we believe all councillors should have the opportunity to vote on the recommendations made in the report.

"We know that any decision will not be taken lightly, however the serious health and safety concerns of the building cannot be ignored.

"The building requires significant investment now, and in the future, just to keep it and all its users safe. Regrettably, the Council will need to consider whether the building is safe, suitable and sustainable for us to continue managing a leisure centre at the site."

The centre has to remain closed at the moment due to serious health and safety concerns since 27th July. Heavy rainfall caused significant damage to the roof, widespread water ingress throughout the building, and lights in the pool hall were affected.

The leisure centre is managed by South Kesteven District Council, the building and the land is owned by Lincolnshire County Council

South Kesteven District Councillors will meet in September

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