Anger at leisure meeting (From This Is Wiltshire)

Anger at leisure meeting

10:13am Friday 24th November 2006 in

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Furious protesters slammed North Wiltshire District Council executive committee last night branding leisure centre decisions as dishonest and underhand.

More than 20 protesters from Corsham, Cricklade, Wootton Bassett, Calne, Malmesbury and Chippenham clashed with Leader of the council Carol O'Gorman as she avoided their questions.

Adressing Calne's White Horse Leisure Centre supporters, coun O'Gorman said: "Calne is a place very close to my heart. My Children learnt how to swim in Calne, my son threw his first rugby ball there.

"Do you really think I would make this decision lightly?"

Campaigner Carla Marygold of Calne said: "You can tell the decision had already been made from the minute Carol O'Gorman opened her mouth.

"This whole process is totally underhand, we might as well not have gone, our support meant nothing."

Calne squash club captain Martin Cuthbert was so enraged by the discussion he stormed out of the meeting after only 15 minutes.

He said: "I have used that centre for 30 years and now my children are using it too.

"I think a decision should be made with regard to the community and not the ballot box."

A debate erupted between district councillor Toby Sturgis and Coun Phil Allnatt. Coun Sturgis demanded the decision be made in the open.

He said: "I am very concerned that this meeting and subsequent decision will take place behind closed doors.

"This is something I believe should be transparent in that the users know what is planned."

Chairman of Cricklade Town Council Clive Wilce said: "It is quite common knowledge that what is in your documents has already been leaked by your council.

"Communities in the north feel quite forgotten when it comes to leisure and I'm hoping in the event of Cricklade Leisure Centre closing the council will be providing a rescue plan for it."