Last-ditch attempt to rescue activity centre fails

The centre is located in the shadow of Yr Wyddfa, also known as Snowden, the highest mountain in Wales

An eleventh-hour attempt to save an outdoor activity centre threatened with closure has failed.

A group of councillors challenged the Mayor of Bedford's decision to terminate Bedford Borough Council's lease on Blue Peris Mountain Centre in North Wales.

A scrutiny panel voted on Wednesday to let the decision stand.

One councillor said life chances of young people in the borough were being "snatched away", but the leisure portfolio holder said the cost of the centre could not be justified.

Blue Peris Mountain Centre, in the heart of Eryri (also known as Snowdonia), has been providing outdoor activities like rock climbing and kayaking since it was set up by Bedfordshire County Council in 1975.

The Mayor, Tom Wootton, signed off a decision to terminate the lease in July, to help the council meet its savings target.

Four councillors called in that decision, saying that conflicting figures were used when the future of the centre was being discussed and alternative options to closure had not been considered.

The environment scrutiny committee met on Wednesday to decide whether the Mayor should be told to reconsider the plan.

Doug McMurdo was one of the four councillors who challenged the decision

One of the councillors who requested the call-in, Doug McMurdo (Independent). told the committee he had "spoken to the site... and it would appear that all options have not been considered" for the future of the centre.

Liberal Democrat councillor Charles Royden told the meeting that it was "very disappointing that the life chances of young people in this borough are being snatched away at Blue Peris by people who have never even been to visit Blue Peris, not looked at what can be done to turn it into a profit."

Sarah Gallagher, the portfolio holder for leisure, said the centre was used by a small number of people from the borough

The portfolio holder for leisure, Sarah Gallagher, confirmed she had not been to the centre and the mayor said he had visited "a long time ago".

Ms Gallagher told the meeting the centre was only used by a small number of Bedford residents and the ongoing costs "cannot be justified on the basis that it is primarily subsidising usage by schools and groups from outside the borough".

The committee agreed that it had no concerns about the decision to close the centre and it would not be referred back.

Michael Barber went to the centre as a child and now teaches geography

Michael Barber, who is now a geography teacher in Bedford, visited the site while an A level student in 1975 and told the BBC he was disappointed about the closure.

He said: "You've got this beautiful environment you can use plus the ability to study and learn, so that double whammy makes it vitally important."