'It would be devastating to lose community centre'

Mark Evans-Guillen says the centre is a "crucial part of our lives"

A father has said the closure of a community centre would be "devastating" for many families who rely on the services it provides.

The Woolston Hub in Warrington, Cheshire, has been partially shut since July after part of the roof fell into the swimming pool. It was then fully closed in September when legionella bacteria was found in the water supply.

One father, Mark Evans-Guillen, who uses the centre "four or five times a week" with his children said it plays a "crucial part" in their lives.

A Warrington Borough Council (WBC) spokesperson said legionella, which can cause the potentially fatal form of pneumonia known as Legionnaires' disease, remained present despite disinfection.

They said it would cost about £3m to repair the hub amid "escalating budget pressures".

Mr Evans-Guillen added: "I use this hub on average four or five times a week. I use it for the gym, my kids go swimming, I go to the doctors here, it really is such a crucial part of our lives. Losing it would just be devastating."

The local authority, last month, said the hub had been subsidised for "some time" and was not "financially sustainable as it stands".

Another parent Vicki said she usually walked to the centre with her autistic son, adding: "It's convenient for us, we don't drive, we live in the local area and other swimming places are too far to travel to. We use this place weekly as a lifeline."

A public consultation will run until 2 January.

About 200 people attended a recent protest calling on the council to keep Woolston Hub open

Indu Raju, who works as a GP at a separate site and used the centre to keep fit, added: "In the long-term, hubs like Woolston play a crucial part in managing and preventing chronic illness.

"They reduce the financial burden on primary care services, which are overstretched, but also on adult social care and hospital care."

Last month, WBC added all options were "currently on the table" and asked leisure centre members and local residents to take part in the public consultation.

Diane Taylor, who retired after working at the hub for 25 years, said there would be a "huge hole on this side of Warrington" if it shut.

"There are other facilities but there are at capacity, especially at peak times.

"This is a very well-used centre. Membership is higher than ever."

The hub was expanded in 2013, having previously operated solely as a leisure centre

The hub, which is used by schools and sports clubs, was expanded by the council in 2013, having previously operated solely as a leisure centre.

"It's fundamentally wrong to spend all that money and then to talk about closure now," Ms Taylor added.

"While no decisions have yet been made about the future of Woolston Neighbourhood Hub, the permanent closure of the site is one of the options being considered," WBC added.