Cricklade's ring of confidence

5:17pm Friday 2nd March 2007

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HUNDREDS of schoolchildren formed an enormous ring around Cricklade Leisure Centre this afternoon in a bid to show how desperate they are to save it.

Youngsters from St Sampson's School took time out from lessons to show North Wiltshire District Council just how much the centre means to them.

Linking hands, the pupils were able to circle the entire building, with chants of "save our leisure centre" ringing in the air.

The centre is due to close on March 31, unless the council approves a community-led business plan from action group Keep Leisure In Cricklade.

Chairman Gary Walker said: "We have always been overwhelmed by the amount of support we continue to get."

North Wiltshire MP James Gray threw his support behind the campaign to save the centre.

"In my ten years here I have never come across the strength of feeling of the kind we saw here today, with all those kids turning up."

Mr Walker said closing the centre could cost the council up to £1 million in the long-term, but just £60,000 to hand it over to them.

That is the sum the group has been offered in funding, but Mr Walker said they will only take it if the council removes the requirement that they pay it back if they fail.

Mr Walker also called for the resignation of district council leader Carol O'Gorman for her handling of the situation.

"We ask that Carol O'Gorman considers her position based on the fiasco of the last three months," he said.

The council's executive committee is due to meet on March 15 to discuss Cricklade.

Mr Walker said he would like a decision sooner, but it would be possible to have the centre open on April 1 if a positive decision was made that night.