A councillor believes a Shropshire leisure centre that is at risk of being closed to the public has not been used to its full extent.
Cabinet has agreed for a consultation to take place on the future of the Much Wenlock site as Shropshire Council looks to make more savings.
Located in Farley Road, the building is owned by the William Brookes Academy Trust and used by the school. However, since 2010 it has been operated and managed by the council.
The local authority’s subsidy, which amounts to £280,040 in the current financial year, allows the leisure centre to be used by the public outside of school hours and at weekends. The proposal, agreed by Cabinet on Wednesday (December 4), is to serve notice on 3-18 Education Trust, which William Brookes School joined in 2021, and withdrawing its subsidy, subject to options being explored.
However, Councillor Dan Thomas, ward member for Much Wenlock, argued that the council does not manage the centre well, with there being difficulty reaching people on the phone, and the site being left to deteriorate.
“Cabinet members and many Much Wenlock residents, including myself, know that the main reason the leisure centre’s income is considerably less than other centres across the county is because members of the public can’t use it during school hours,” said Cllr Thomas.
“Far from being at the heart of the community, the leisure centre is closed mostly when people want to use it. You wouldn’t run a business like this; in fact, many mainstream gyms are now open 24/7.
“Not only is our leisure centre’s hours reduced to avoid school time, it will also be closed from December 23 to January 2.
“Much Wenlock is the birthplace of the modern Olympics, giving it the best sporting heritage of anywhere in our county. This is a valued asset for the town and the surrounding communities but has not been used to its full extent.
“As a result, its financial performance falls well short of its undoubted potential. Of course, I understand the need for Shropshire Council to find savings to address the rising demand for social care, but as the local councillor for Much Wenlock, my priority is trying to find a way to get a deal that works for our community.
“The fitness benefits of a leisure centre open when people, especially older people, want to use it could significantly benefit public health over time and reduce reliance on care in later life. Prevention is better than looking for a cure.”
However, Cllr Thomas did say that discussions between 3-18 Education Trust and the council indicate that both parties are keen to try and find a way to continue the community use should local authority funding be withdrawn after 12 months’ consultation.
“All parties are very receptive to any support or suggestions from the community or other stakeholders,” said Cllr Thomas.
“I hope that by working together, we can find a way to maintain community use of the leisure centre, but I ask the Cabinet to wait before undertaking this consultation so an alternative way forward can be agreed upon.”
Councillor Lezley Picton, leader of Shropshire Council, said part of the issue is that, unlike some of the other joint-use centres, the site in Much Wenlock is not open during school hours.
“I’m sure there are faults on both sides, but what I would say, as we’ve experienced in other joint-use centres, the wear and tear on facilities that are used day in, day out by schools is very different to the wear and tear on facilities used by the public, and that is something we’ve been talking to the school about,” said Cllr Picton.
“The last thing any of us want to do is to close a facility that the public use, and I am hopeful we will find a way forward that will suit all of us.”
