Shock over proposals on leisure centres
Community groups and sports clubs have been left shocked at drastic proposals for the future of leisure centres across Walsall – one of which includes demolition of all of them.
Community groups and sports clubs have been left shocked at drastic proposals for the future of leisure centres across Walsall – one of which includes demolition of all of them.
Six options have been put forward for the future of six sites across the borough, all of which are making huge losses.
As well as closure of all, leaving the path clear for private firms to run leisure facilities, other options include having just one high-profile super leisure centre or axing some and re-investing in a few remaining centres.
But the measures have stunned users of the under-threat centres, which include Gala Baths, Bloxwich, Oak Park, Darlaston, Bentley and Willenhall, which has had the axe hanging over it for several months in a cost-cutting move.
Keith Jones has run a judo club at Oak Park Leisure Centre in Walsall Wood for the last 10 years.
He said: "We work in schools and all sorts and use Oak Park as a base, if it shut it would be devastating. In our experience people will only travel so far. If you move centres you lose that trade forever.
"I think when they say the centre is losing money it is the way the council does not advertise it properly.
"There is all sorts at the leisure centre karate clubs and roller skating, bowls, they hold toy fairs, children's parties, badminton and squash, they would all be affected."
Pauline Gibson of County Bridge Community Association, which has its HQ at Bentley Pavilion, said: "It is the only green area in this community on those grounds alone they should keep it.
"People hire it for weddings and birthdays and there is a community room down there. A youth football team Short Heath FC is based here."
A list of yearly incomes at each of the leisure centres has been published and will be put before a public meeting next Tuesday at Walsall Council House at 6pm.
It shows how the six centres are faring. The annual income at Oak Park, Lichfield Road, Walsall Wood, is -£364,202.
At Darlaston in Victoria Road the loss stands at -£331,647, at Gala Baths in Tower Street it is -£355,273 while at Willenhall in Bath Street it is -£160,636. Bentley Pavilion in Bentley Road North is -£33,488.
