Consultation on leisure closures
MORE TIME FOR RESIDENTS TO HAVE A SAY ON THE FUTURE OF FACILITIES
GATESHEAD residents have another chance to have their say on controversial leisure centre closures.
The new public consultation on the future of Gateshead Leisure Centre and the Birtley Swimming Centre started yesterday and concludes today.
The aim is to allow residents and community groups more time to discuss the future of the costly leisure centres and possibly formulate plans for a takeover.
The potential closure of leisure centres in Gateshead has sparked outrage among residents for months and has seen the Labour majority council come under fire for how it has managed its finances.
Coun Martin Gannon, leader of Gateshead Council said: “We are committing nearly a million pounds to ensure that we have a rounded view of the impact potential closures will have on our residents. This will also provide additional time to ensure that community groups which have expressed an interest in running the leisure centres have a fair opportunity to present their business case.
“Closing leisure centres is a devastating decision to consider and I appreciate the impact that this will have on residents who frequently use these facilities. However, we must prioritise our limited budgets in order to protect our most vulnerable residents.
“Over the last 12 years we have had a 56% reduction in our budget, which means we must make these devastating decisions to protect the sustainability of the council.”
The possible closure of the centres has also created a political storm in Gateshead with Liberal Democrat councillors urging the council to extend the consultation further and use the authority’s financial reserves to help preserve the centres.
The leader of Gateshead’s Liberal Democrats, Coun Ron Beadle, said: “We are pleased that the council has extended the consultation period, but they have not gone far enough. Labour has failed to get the finances right for eight years. Campaigners and community groups need more than a couple of months to see if they can do any better.
“They deserve a year and the council needs to involve them directly. At February’s budget meeting, we will propose that reserves be used to enable this to happen. By supporting us, Labour councillors would also remove the suspicion that their delay is a ruse to avoid closing leisure centres before May’s local elections.”
A report on the future of the centres will be delivered to Gateshead Council’s cabinet in June 2023.
Residents can complete the consultation online at www.gateshead.gov.uk/Leisureconsultation or request a paper copy at any of the leisure centres.