Bad news for leisure groups (From This Is Wiltshire)

Bad news for leisure groups

2:10pm Saturday 9th December 2006 in

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Financial reports just released by North Wiltshire District Council will make difficult reading for the action groups set up to save leisure centres in Wootton Bassett, Cricklade and Calne.

The council warned last week that the protesters leading campaigns to save the centres planned for closure in March should use their heads rather than their hearts.

Now the reports have the stark facts. The report show sthat Cricklade's centre is due to end up £168,605 down at the end of April if the current year's trend continues. It had leaked £98,353 by the end of October.

Lime Kiln in Wootton Bassett will end up £203,062 down if the same rate of loss carries on for the rest of the financial year - up to the end of October it had lost £118,453.

The leisure centres were transferred from the council to a company called North Wilts Leisure Limited in 2000.

Last month it was decided to "mothball" the three centres as an emergency measure.

The centres were due to close by the end of the year, but the deadline has been extended to March next year while the council and community groups see if a solution can be reached to keep them open.

The new accounts show they have consistently made a loss.

The council's scrutiny and overview committee will discuss the matter on Monday in Chippenham.