Officials could have to reconsider decision to shut Falmouth's leisure centre
Local councillors have challenged the process over Ships and Castles
Last updated 23rd Mar 2022
Cornwall Council’s Cabinet may have to reconsider its decision to close Ships and Castles Leisure Centre in Falmouth after local councillors challenged the process.
An extraordinary committee meeting will be held next week after Labour councillors in Falmouth “called-in” the decision to close the leisure centre.
The Falmouth centre is the only one in Cornwall which is set to close at the end of this month after operators GLL said they could no longer afford to run it. The centre was originally one of five facilities under threat of closure but it was the only one that Cornwall Council’s Cabinet said should close next week.
As a result of negotiations Saltash Leisure Centre will remain open under GLL, while more time has been given to keep Wadebridge Leisure Centre open and Launceston Leisure Centre will be handed back to the trust which owns it next year. Discussions are ongoing about the future of the hydrotherapy pool in St Austell.
However, there was shock and disappointment when the council’s Conservative Cabinet approved the plans to close Ships and Castles. Cabinet member Richard Pears did make a pledge to continue to work to provide alternative and “fit for purpose” leisure facilities in Falmouth and Penryn.
Labour councillors Laurie Magowan and Jayne Kirkham have now successfully called-in the decision which means that it will have to be reconsidered by councillors. As a result the customer and support services overview and scrutiny committee will hold an extraordinary meeting on Monday (March28).
Cllr Magowan said: “We decided to call-in the decision made by Cabinet because we felt the negative impacts on the community were not fully considered, with the closure of Ships and Castles, discriminating against people in our communities who won’t be able to access alternative swimming pools. The decision also goes against several of Cornwall Council’s own ambitions to improve health, wellbeing and the environment.”
Concerns about the impact on school children, families and long term users of the leisure centre were raised at a heated Cabinet meeting on March 4. Members of the public were angered by the lack of answers to a number of questions relating to residents of Falmouth and Penryn having no access to a public swimming pool.
Cllr Kirkham added: “I am pleased that the scrutiny committee is going to look again at this decision. I don’t think full consideration of the bids to take over the pool or the wishes of the community in Falmouth were properly taken into account in the original cabinet decision.
“It may be that the review of the original decision will not prevent the closure of Ships and Castles on March 31, but it’s an important step to ensure transparency and accountability are maintained.”
The call-in is the first to be made during the current administration and there had been no successful call-ins under the last administration.