Campaign shifts up a gear

The activists from Keep Leisure in Cricklade (KLIC), who are fighting to keep the Cricklade Leisure Centre open, will today pose a series of questions to North Wiltshire District Council in an attempt to discover why their bid to save the facility has been thwarted at every turn.

Today, local school children will form a human chain around the leisure centre in an attempt to show just how important it is to the community and to get the message across to the council.

Gary Walker, the leading light behind the campaign, said: "These are all questions that we have asked North Wiltshire District Council in the past, and not really received adequate answers to them.

"We have had some constructive meetings with them this week, but it does seem that they would like to wash their hands of this facility once and for all.

"But we are giving them a clear get-out clause. It just seems to be getting that simple fact across to them which is proving to be a real sticking point."

KLIC feels that a meeting - which will decide the ultimate fate of the centre - with the council's executive is too close to the deadline of March 31. They would like to see it brought forward.

"When North Wilts Leisure went into liquidation a few weeks back, the council was able in a matter of a couple of days to sort out the paying of 300 staff, so I don't know why they cannot move forward our meeting."

KLIC say their option is far more viable and cost-effective than simply closing the facility. They believe that it could cost as much as £1m to secure the building for the next nine years - far more expensive than just handing the facility over to KLIC.

The campaigners also want to know why North Wilts councillor Dianne Moore resigned from her position on the executive committee last week and if her resignation has been prompted by the leisure centre debacle.

Coun Moore told the Adver: "I would have been happy to see the whole of the leisure centre business through, however I did not feel I was getting the support from my leaders I should have. I am not the sort of person to start something and not see it through to the end."

Question time

Q: Can the NWDC executive meeting scheduled for March 15 to review the bid to save Cricklade Leisure Centre please be brought forward to an earlier date?

A: A meeting focusing on the issue will take place on March 6.

Q: Are the full costs of closing the Cricklade Leisure Centre being compared to the costs laid out in the KLIC business plan? KLIC believes its proposal is the lower cost option, and estimate closure will cost at least £1m.

A: The council does not agree with this figure or the understanding.

The costs set aside in the budget relate to securing the site for a 12month period only.

The costs of maintaining the building in accordance with the lease terms is the responsibility of the tenant not the council. The total level of redundancies has not been agreed and it is therefore not possible to agree what the costs will be. The council has not made any proposals to demolish the building or recover the land.

However, should that decision be reached, these costs would be offset against any uplift costs for the sale or development of the land.

The increased running costs for the youth centre that shares services with the leisure centre is not a district council service and would therefore not increase costs to the council.

Q: Is NWDC aware of the impact of the closure on the local community?

A: North Wiltshire District Council is aware that each of the centres is important but it can no longer afford to operate all six.