Ships and Castles Falmouth: Concerns more leisure centres could close
By Joseph Macey
24th Oct 2021 | Local News
Concerns have been raised that plans to close five leisure facilities in Cornwall could be the start of more cuts to leisure services.
Cornwall Council is currently carrying out consultation on its leisure strategy after leisure centre operator GLL said that it could no longer run leisure centres in Falmouth, Launceston, Saltash and Wadebridge as well as the hydrotherapy pool in St Austell.
GLL currently has the contract to run council-owned leisure centres but under that contract the not-for-profit firm is allowed to request changes if required.
It has said that the impact of the covid-19 pandemic, which saw all leisure services closed for a long period during lockdown, had meant that the threatened services are no longer viable to run.
They have said that membership levels at the centres have not recovered to pre-covid rates and that the five services are operating at a considerable loss.
Cornwall Council has said that no final decision has been made about the future of the centres and is inviting people to offer alternative ways to keep the facilities open.
The consultation closes at the end of this month and responses will be evaluated with a report going to the council's Cabinet when it meets in December to make a decision.
Cornwall Council has said that its strategy is to have leisure services provided at no cost to the council, a key reason for handing the contract to GLL in the first place.
Those fighting to save the threatened centres have urged people all over Cornwall to take part in the consultation and not just in those areas where the at-risk centres are located.
They fear that if GLL is allowed to offload the five services then it could lead to further cuts or closures of other centres in future.
Independent councillor Adam Paynter, who represents Launceston North and North Petherwin, said that if GLL no longer wants to run the centres then there is an option for the council to take them back in-house.
"It doesn't seem right that GLL have been able to cherry pick which centres it wants to run, what happens next? Is it going to be that they will come back with another two they can't run and then another four?
"They have already dropped Bude Sea Pool, Newquay Sports Centre and Falmouth (Princess) Pavilions from the contract – where does that all end?
"We strongly feel that the council should continue to support the leisure centres."
However, he added that he was hopeful that a solution could be found and that the leisure centres will remain open.
"I am hopeful that they will stay open. As an Independent group we are looking at an alternative budget (for Cornwall Council) and part of that will be providing money for leisure centres.
"I hope that the administration will look at that. It's pretty sad that the first action of the administration is to close leisure centres. I hope they will change their mind and do the right thing."
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