Falmouth leisure centre closure recommended by Cornwall Council officers

Supporters of the Falmouth leisure centre said they were "gutted" at recommendations to close it

Cornwall Council officers have recommended the closure of a leisure centre in Falmouth.

It comes after operator Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) said it could no longer run Ships and Castles Leisure Centre without more support.

Pendennis Leisure, a community group formed after closure plans were announced, said it was "gutted".

The council said if its cabinet decided to approve the recommendation, the closure would go ahead.

Officers have advised the centre should close on 31 March.

The council said it would provide support for the affected staff if it went ahead.

'Complete disappointment'

Local councillors and the area's Conservative MP have criticised the recommendation, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Labour Cornwall councillor Jayne Kirkham said its closure would leave the area "with no pool within a half-hour drive or a one-hour bus ride".

Truro and Falmouth MP Cherilyn Mackrory said she had written to Conservative colleagues in the council's cabinet expressing her "complete disappointment".

Pendennis Leisure said it was "absolutely gutted" and it would "continue to do all we can to keep Ships and Castles operating".

Some campaigners also said they were concerned the council was more interested in the value of the land at Pendennis Point than the facilities.

Ben Leach said: "This is the only affordable facility where people have to go to swim in this area. Everything else is private hotels with very expensive membership."

Senior councillors said they could not subsidise bids made to help run the Falmouth centre

Falmouth was initially among five facilities under threat, with others being leisure centres in Wadebridge, Launceston and Saltash, plus a hydrotherapy pool in St Austell.

Saltash Leisure Centre has been saved, Launceston's centre is due to be handed back to its owners and discussions are ongoing about the future of the St Austell pool.

Council officers advised more time be taken to find an alternative operator to take on the Wadebridge facility.

Richard Pears, council cabinet member for leisure services, said bids had been made to operate the Falmouth centre.

But he added they "all relied on the council being able to heavily subsidise its running in the long-term", which was "precisely what we cannot do".

A final decision is set to be made at an extraordinary cabinet meeting on Friday.

In response to the land value comments Cornwall Council said keeping Ships and Castles open would require a "very significant subsidy".

"We confirmed at the outset that the council does not have the money to subsidise the running of leisure centres and that we have to make some difficult decisions to ensure our critical services are protected and statutory obligations are met.

A spokesperson said the bids had been considered in "great detail" and added: "There is no viable bid to run Ships and Castles in Falmouth without a very significant subsidy from the council."