Full council will consider petition on possible closure of Cornish leisure centres

More than 5,000 people signed the campaign, calling for a full debate

Author: Emma HartPublished 23rd Nov 2021

A petition about the public consultation on leisure centre provision across Cornwall, where five sites are at risk of closure, WILL be discussed by the full council.

The leisure centre petition, organised by Cllr Robin Moorcroft, has received more than 5,000 signatures, over the threshold to mean it must be debated by all councillors.

Falmouth, Launceston, Wadebridge, Saltash are the sites under threat of closure, along with the hydrotherapy pool in St Austell.

The meeting, which will take place at County Hall in Truro next Tuesday, is open to the public and will be available to watch live online via a webcast.

Other items on the agenda for next week's meeting include public questions, the Health and Wellbeing Strategy and questions from councillors to the Cabinet.

Cllr Linda Taylor, leader of Cornwall Council, said: "I am pleased that this petition will be considered before full council.

"We have already heard from over 4,700 residents through our consultation on this matter, and have held numerous meetings in the affected areas to ensure everyone was kept fully in the picture and able to have their say.

"That feedback is now being collated and will be reported to us at Cabinet,

"These are difficult times for councils across the country as we deal with rising demand for our services that outstrips any growth in income, combined with the unique impacts of the pandemic over the past two years.

"Since we took control of the council in May, we have been working to ensure we fix the finances while maintaining frontline services as much as we possibly can.

"Some difficult decisions have to be made, and innovative solutions must be found to ensure we can bridge our budget gap while focussing on our priorities, which reflect the issues our residents have told us matter to them.

"We are doing all we can, and no decisions have yet been made, something I hope we can ensure is clear when this matter is raised at full council next week".

The meeting will take place at 10.30am on Tuesday 30th November and can be watched via the webcast on Cornwall Council's website.

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