4:48pm Friday 16th February 2007
By Benjamin Parkes
All six leisure centre in North Wiltshire will close on Tuesday.
It is understood a crunch meeting between the district council and its leisure arm decided this afternoon to keep the centres in Chippenham, Corsham, Calne, Malmesbury, Cricklade and Wootton Bassett open over the weekend so as not to disappoint customers.
The decision comes after North Wiltshire Leisure Ltd was put into administration by the district council after a private meeting of the executive committee yesterday evening.
The council and leisure trust are due to issue a statment later today giving more details.
Michael Buckley, chairman of North Wiltshire Leisure Ltd, emerged battered from his four hour talks with the North Wiltshire District Council but has told the Gazette that the centres will stay open for the weekend.
The debt-ridden trust was facing administration after the council refused to hand over any more money to prop it up and all six centres looked set to close tonight. But after lengthy negotiations today it is believed the centres will stay open for the weekend and close on Tuesday.
Mr Buckley said: "I see no reason why people cannot go to their swimming sessions on Saturday. Despite everything that is going on it is business as usual. I cannot comment on whether the centres will stay open beyond Monday but we will make a statement tomorrow if not tonight. "It is important to say that all the leisure centre staff members on the board have maintained dignity and professionalism in the face of some trying times."
North Wiltshire MP James Gray, said: "I think it is absolutely unbelievable. They seem to be making it up as they go along.
"Whether they close today or on Tuesday they have still made a complete shambles of the situations and confused many of my constituents who use the centres in Corsham, Wootton Bassett and Chippenham.
"We need some clarity and competence here."
A member of staff at the Olympiad Leisure Centre said the public have been ringing in all day wanting to know whether their memberships will still be valid.
"We don't know what is happening ourselves," she said. "No one has even told us what is going on, we are very worried about our jobs."
She said staff have no idea what to tell people ringing in for help and advice.
Sports clubs spoke of their anguish at the news.
Tim Magnus, chairman of Wootton Bassett Otters who use the Lime Kiln Centre, said: "We are happy there is a long term future but it is a small crisis as we have people who train three days a week.
"There is also the Wiltshire County Championships coming up next month and if swimmers aren't training all hope for doing well goes out of the window.
"All the other pools are full and with a month without any training you would lose form rather quick."
Magnus was also concerned with the affect the closures would have on younger swimmers.
He said: "It will also hit the kids who are learning to swim. The whole point of learning is that you repeat it and keep learning, which they wouldn't be able to do."
DC Leisure is due to take over on Friday, March 30 but Magnus is worried about how long the transition will take.
He said: "If they shut for a month what would be left for DC leisure to take over?
"If the pools have to be drained and anything else done, would DC leisure be in a position to open or would it be another month while they get things sorted."
Jon Dodsworth, chairman of Calne Sub Aqua Club, was angry after discovering the news.
"I'm gobsmacked, just as a rescue package was coming together they cut us off," he said.
"Just a couple of days ago I was talking to staff and they were saying they were hopeful.
"It is surprising they couldn't have given any notice what so ever."
Dodsworth was damming on North Wiltshire Leisure Ltd and felt they want to ditch their responsibilities. "It is just another example of mismanagement. It is always drastic and immediate, they must have know this was coming," he said.
"They would like to wash their hands of the whole thing and vanish.
"It is so unfair on the staff because they are good people and don't deserve this. "
Joint chairman of Calne Alpha 4 swimming club, Nicki Marshallsay, was understandably furious at the events of the last 24 hours.
"It has been coming for a long time and they have kept us in the dark," she said.
"There is more than enough cause for various heads to roll as they have not been up front with anyone and know much more than they have let on.
"They promised they were going to be upfront with people and they haven't been and it makes everyone lose trust."
Marshallsay assured members they would have a place to swim even if the White Horse closed on Tuesday.
She said: "If we have to go somewhere else then we can, we might not be able to jump in the pool on Wednesday as we might have to wait a week but we will not close."
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