Leisure centre hopes fade as closure agreed

At an executive board meeting yesterday councillors agreed to follow the recommendations of a report into the future of the centre that recommended that the council begin procedures to close South Leeds Sports Centre.

However it also said they should continue with negotiations with Tiger 11, a community group in Beeston and Holbeck, to take over the site.

Even it that is successful, it would mean the centre being closed in the short-term.

Campaigners held a demonstration outside civic hall before the meeting against the proposed closure. Jeffrey Claydon, 65, a member of the group, said: "Over 100 people marched against this earlier in the year. They say we can go to Morley, but we can't get there because that would be expensive for us."

Mr Claydon's wife, Diane, 63, has also joined the campaign: "The centre isn't open a lot anymore, now it's only open silly hours so people cannot go, that's why it's failing," she said.

The board had previously agreed to keep the centre open for four months in an attempt to thrash out a deal, but the report pointed out that since the reopening of Morley Leisure Centre in June, the number of visitors to the centre has fallen by 90 per cent,to 215 visitors a week leaving the council to find 25,000 a month.

Coun John Proctor, executive member for leisure, said: "To compare visitor numbers with Morely is bizarre. There are no profitable leisure centres in Leeds, there is a clear lack of understanding from ward councillors for the area.

He added: "All this report tells us is what we knew months ago, keeping it open in that time has cost council tax payers 125,000."

Coun Keith Wakefield, leader of the council, supported the recommendations, and said: "We should do all we can to work with Tiger 11 to try and keep this pool open. It is a very tough choice, but I strongly support the recommendations."

Council officers will now w attempt to work out a deal with the group and a six month exclusivity agreement will be put in place to help the discussions.