11:09am Tuesday 17th April 2007
By Gazette Reporter
Calne Town Council has pledged £50,000 to anyone who takes on White Horse Leisure Centre.
The decision was made last night at a meeting of the full council.
The cash, which comes from this year's town council reserves and next year's precept, will be split in half and paid over two years.
The vote was cast after a desperate plea from leisure centre rescue group chairman Mick Devonport.
Mr Devonport, of Honeysuckle Close, said: "I can see in the eyes of the people that many people want to support the leisure centre but there are some that do not.
"We need the support of the town council before we can speak to the district. Why should the district council want to help us if it sees that not even the local council will?"
Documents detailing a rescue package for the leisure centre in Calne were delivered to North Wiltshire District Council this morning.
The plans, drawn up by Athena Leisure, were handed to chief executive of North Wiltshire District Council Delwyn Burbidge.
Athena Leisure believes that with the £50,000 grant now pledged by Calne Town Council it can keep the White Horse Leisure Centre open for the next 18 months.
But Mr Devonport says that everyone involved must now act fast as vandals have already struck the leisure centre since the swimming pool shut on March 31.
Mr Devonport worries that nearby John Bentley School, which took over the sports courts and other facilities for use by its pupils, will suffer if the vandalism is allowed to continue.
Ground floor windows were boarded up but upstairs in the building has already come under attack.
Speaking after his speech Mr Devonport said: "We've got one organisation trying to save the centre for the very people who are damaging it but who may at one point want or need to use it.
"The council has boarded the lower levels but windows have been smashed on the upstairs. We can only hope to see an end to it now that the kids have gone back to school."
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