Trafford Water Sports Centre to close due to council cuts

Trafford Council said it was still looking for other providers

A water sports centre in Greater Manchester is to close at the end of the year after losing its funding.

Trafford Council said it can no longer afford the £200,000 annual subsidy to Trafford Water Sports Centre in Sale.

As a result, the provision of sailing, canoeing and wind-surfing lessons at Sale Water Park will end on 31 December, the authority said.

Terminating the deal with operators Deckers is expected to save the council £1.1m over seven years.

Deckers has been contracted by the authority to provide water sports training on the 52-acre lake since 2000.

Trafford Council said: "The council pays an annual subsidy of approximately £200,000 to Trafford Water Sports Centre and in the current economic climate we are unable to continue with this.

"The subsidy contributes up to 73% of the income generated by the centre and without the subsidy it would not be a viable business."

In a statement, Deckers said it was in the process of contacting those affected by the decision and assisting them in making alternative arrangements.

Sale Water Park is an artificial lake which opened in 1979 in the Mersey Valley green belt alongside the M60 motorway, between Sale and Stretford.