Cornwall Council's Cabinet agreed to devolve the leisure centre and Pendennis Headland to the town council. The closed leisure centre that Falmouth Towm council hopes to reopen and the Headland will be passed over for just £1.

Ships and Castles closed earlier this year after former operator GLL said it could no longer afford to keep it open and Cornwall Council said it was unable to find an alternative operator. However, since then, the town council has worked hard to reach an agreement with Cornwall Council so that it could take over the assets.

Cornwall Council had previously said that it intended to sell the leisure centre and land around it and would provide any money from the sale towards providing a new leisure facility for the town. However, there were fears that if the headland was sold then it would be redeveloped into housing or a luxury hotel.

As a result, the town council, local Cornwall councillors, and scores of local people teamed together to try and protect the headland and to take over the leisure centre so that it might be reopened. A community interest company was also set up by local people – Pendennis Leisure – which wanted to run the leisure centre.

Today Cornwall Council's Cabinet formally agreed to devolve the headland and Ships and Castles to Falmouth Town Council. Cornwall Council deputy leader David Harris said: "I have to say that at the end we have got to a very good solution here working with Falmouth Town Council." He later added: "Teamwork gets things done."

Cabinet member Martyn Alvey said: "This is both the right and proper solution to what has been a bit of a saga. The town council themselves have a far closer relationship with the residents of Falmouth. I am delighted that they continue to work with Pendennis Leisure to get Ships and Castles open again for residents. It will be amazing if that can happen."

Local Cornwall councillor Jayne Kirkham paid tribute to the hard work of the town council and Cornwall Council in reaching the agreement. She said: "We are all really pleased in Falmouth that it has come to this conclusion. It is a big deal for the people of Falmouth to take on Pendennis Headland."

Pendennis Leisure said on their Facebook page: "We are delighted to hear the result of today's Cornwall Council Cabinet meeting where there was a unanimous vote to handover the Pendennis headland to Falmouth Town Council and the people of Falmouth and its surrounding areas. There's still lots to do for us to realise the ambition of getting a pool back open, but this CC decision is a milestone towards that outcome. Well done and congratulations all."

The news was also welcomed by Truro and Falmouth MP Cherilyn Mackrory who had previously urged Cornwall Council to work with the town council to keep the leisure centre open.

She said: "It was excellent news this morning that Cornwall Council's cabinet have agreed to devolve their land on the Pendennis Headland in Falmouth, including Ships and Castles, to Falmouth Town Council.

"This is an early Christmas present from Cornwall Council and is exactly what the community in Falmouth and Penryn have been asking for.

"This means that Falmouth Town Council can now continue to work with Pendennis Leisure to try and get Ships and Castles re-opened, as well as take over management of the wider headland itself. A truly brilliant outcome and one I have been pleased to have been involved with.

"Congratulations to all involved, both the local community for working up such a strong case and to Cornwall Council's Cabinet for listening and acting accordingly.

"I look forward to working with all concerned to maximise the potential of the headland as an asset for the community going forward."