The Cornwall councillor responsible for leisure services has insisted that "nobody wants to see leisure centres closing" and that nothing is off the table in terms of their future.

Richard Pears, the Cabinet member for customers, made the comments in response to questions about the council's current consultation on leisure services which is considering the closure of four leisure centres in Cornwall.

Centres in Falmouth, Launceston, Saltash and Wadebridge, as well as the hydrotherapy pool in St Austell, are all at risk after operator GLL said it could no longer run them.

The possible closure has led to a chorus of protests in the areas affected with many calling on Cornwall Council to step in and save the centres.

However, the Conservative administration has said that it cannot afford to provide any subsidy to the service and that it will consider any alternative options for running the service.

Conservative councillor Mr Pears told a meeting of the council's customer and support services overview and scrutiny committee, that he did not want to see centres close.

He responded to councillors' concerns after the committee received 17 questions from members of the public concerned about the future of leisure services.

Questioners were left disappointed with the responses from committee chairman John Keeling with several stating that he was just repeating information which was included in the consultation document and did not address their concerns.

Cllr Pears said:

"We are where we are, we are running a consultation on the leisure centres to get the views of local people and to engage with partners and community interest companies to find solutions.

"We want to look at how could these leisure centres work, how could the portfolio work better – that is the whole point of the consultation."

Cllr Pears said that once the consultation is complete he would welcome councillors scrutinising the responses and the proposals which come forward.

But with many asking questions about the future of the centres he added:

"I do feel we are jumping ahead of ourselves. Nobody wants to close any leisure centres – that is only one possible outcome. I certainly hope we will have some better outcomes before that time."

Julian German raised concerns about the closure of the hydrotherapy pool and said that the alternative facility at the Merlin Centre does not have the capacity to take those who would use the St Austell pool.

He said that NHS staff had indicated that they would refer patients to use the St Austell facility but had been unable to do so whilst it had been closed.

Cllr Pears said that the council was willing to work with the NHS to look at options but added:

"This administration and previous administration has said use it or lose it. The consultation revealed there were only six visits to the hydrotherapy pool per day. That puts it into context.

"Nobody wants to get rid of swimming pools or reduce facilities but on the other hand you had pools like this being open for six visits a day – is it sensible to keep a pool open for six visits a day?"

Cllr German said that the numbers were not important when there were people who needed such facilities to help with their health and wellbeing:

"This is about helping people to get better and to live their lives as best they can."

On the issue of people using the centres, Cllr Pears added:

"This whole consultation wouldn't be happening if the leisure centres were overflowing with people.

"If, as a result of this, more people go out and join their leisure centre and use the facilities then that would be fantastic."

However, he warned that the council would not be shifting from its position of not funding the leisure centres.

He said:

"It is a very, very difficult time, as you can imagine. The administration are having to cut their cloth accordingly.

"Nobody wants to close a leisure centre and nothing is off the table in considering the way forward."

The overview and scrutiny committee voted unanimously to have an extraordinary meeting to consider the leisure services review ahead of it going to the Cabinet for a decision in December.

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