Cornish leisure centres 'to be kept affordable'

Leisure centres managers in Cornwall are working to ensure facilities are still affordable despite budget cuts, a managing company boss says.

Not-for-profit company Carrick Leisure Limited has been in charge of 18 leisure facilities for 18 months.

Managing director Simon Blamey said the company had seen a recent £100,000 cut in subsidies from Cornwall Council.

He said more cuts were expected, but that bosses hoped to achieve a "balancing act" to maintain services.

Cornwall Council is attempting to make nearly £35m of savings this financial year as part of a four-year budget strategy.

Mr Blamey said subsidy levels were expected to keep dropping but managers hoped a new business plan being drawn up would help protect services.

He said: "We're trying to make services that meet people's needs, and provide services that people want to buy."

Carrick Leisure manages facilities across county, including centres or pools in: Bude, Bodmin, Helston, Launceston, Liskeard Newquay, Penzance, Saltash, St Austell, St Ives, Truro and Wadebridge.