Kettering Leisure Village to remain partly open

Kettering Leisure Village, known as KLV, was set to shut its doors entirely on 3 July, but parts will remain open

A leisure complex that was due to close will remain open in part.

The doors of Kettering Leisure Village, which houses the Lighthouse Theatre, Balance Health Club and Arena Sports Centre, were due to shut on 3 July.

The Compass Group, which runs the site, said all facilities except the Conference Centre would stay open under its guidance until 4 September.

Phoenix Leisure Management, which sublet the site, would then continue to run the complex.

A North Northamptonshire Council grant of £337,000 would help pay for the site's continuation.

The Compass Group previously said the complex, known as KLV, had been "making a loss for a number of years" and it was no longer sustainable to run.

The operator said: "The council has confirmed it will continue to support the theatre and the arena with a grant that goes towards operating costs and facilitate its use as a community site.

"The Balance Health Club will also be kept open alongside these facilities."

About 15,000 people had signed a petition hoping to keep KLV open.

Kettering Leisure Village campaigners attended a North Northamptonshire Council meeting to urge it to step in to save the complex

Council leader Jason Smithers said in a statement: "I'm absolutely delighted that all parties have been able to agree a way forward which sees the elements of the complex that play such a vital role in the local community stay open at no additional cost to the taxpayer.

"KLV is one of the area's premier leisure venues and we know how well valued it is by the local community, as indeed it is by us."

Jack MacDonald-Lucas, from the KLV supporters group, said campaigners would look at securing a "viable future" for the complex.

He said the group would try to get "investors in front of Phoenix [Leisure Management] to try and push this to the next 20, 30 years".

The Conference Centre closure was "a bit of damage in a really successful campaign", Mr MacDonald-Lucas said, but added: "If we work with business partners we can get to the point where it is all open again."

Phoenix Leisure Management has been approached for comment.