Stocksbridge Leisure centre loses legal fight

Sheffield City Council intends to stop funding the leisure centre as part of a £50m cuts programme

A Sheffield leisure centre which campaigners fought to save can be closed on Friday, a court has ruled.

Campaign group 4SLC had argued against Sheffield City Council's decision to cut funding for the Stocksbridge centre.

The group applied for a judicial review of the decision to shut Stocksbridge and for an injunction to prevent its closure while a review took place.

A court refused the injunction but said a review would begin in June.

The city council announced it planned to stop funding the leisure centre as part of a £50m cuts programme in the 2013-2014 budget.

It said the centre was costly and had falling visitor numbers, but offered to mothball the site to allow campaigners time to develop a business plan.

4SLC argued that the centre needed to remain open to make a possible takeover viable.

In the wake of the ruling, Sheffield City Council culture and environment director Paul Billington said: "Obviously we are pleased that the judge has recognised the merits of a more pragmatic approach we put forward of mothballing Stocksbridge Leisure Centre.

"We believe this will give the community more time to develop a viable and sustainable business plan for the future of the centre."

Other council proposals include the closure the Don Valley Stadium.