Leisure centre 'will be reopening'

By Jamie Shapiro, Local Democracy Reporter

st marys sports centre google maps 600px

Campaigners have lobbied a city council meeting to get St Mary’s Leisure Centre open again as soon as possible.

Photo: Google Maps

 

 

Bearing banners, the group waited on the steps of the civic centre to make their point before the cabinet meeting today (June 14).

Under the Conservative administration last year, St Mary’s was closed and despite a protest, was not reopened.

The campaigners had hoped that the new Labour administration would finally reopen the centre, and at first were not pleased to see that it was not included on today’s Cabinet agenda – despite a previous pledge that the reopening is high on the Labour administration’s list of priorities.

Leader of the council, Cllr Satvir Kaur, allowed them to present their statements to the cabinet even though it was not part of the meeting.

A spokesperson from the campaign said: “Six weeks’ holiday will be here and there is nowhere for young people to go. We are getting worried about what they are going to do. There are a lot of people in the area. Where are they going to go?”

Cllr Kaur replied by saying: “I want to give my assurance that St Mary’s will be reopening. It isn’t as simple as just opening the doors as all of the staff will have now moved on, but plans are in place to open it as soon as possible.”

The leader of the council went on to say: “I grew up in that area and I know how busy it can get in the summer holidays.”

Exact dates of planning and reopening of the leisure centre will be announced in Cabinet in due course.


ldrs logo 200px This article is from the Local Democracy Reporting Service or Shared Data Unit. Some alterations and additions may have been made by our site, which is a partner in the BBC's Local News Partnerships scheme. LDRS journalists are funded by the BBC to cover local authorities and other public service organisations, and content is shared with all partners.


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