Meeting over leisure centre's future

10:22am Thursday 19th July 2007

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A public meeting is to be held in Calne to discuss new proposals to re-open the town's leisure centre.

It is to be held in the town hall on July 26 at 7pm when the Calne Leisure Action Group will present its plans for reviving the centre and rally public support.

CLAG has asked North Wiltshire District Council for a £75,000 grant to re-launch the White Horse Leisure Centre.

The grant would be used to buy new gym equipment for the centre if CLAGs rescue bid is given the go-ahead.

The application for cash was made to the district council's Calne Area Five Committee, and a decision was due to be made last night.

Members of the district council's executive committee have already agreed to support CLAGs bid providing not-for-profit group the Industrial Providence Society agrees to run the centre if it is reopened.

If the IPS agrees, CLAG aims to have the centre open again by October 1.

The community-based group is aiming to save the centre by offering shares to people living in Calne and the surrounding villages as well as collecting cash and material pledges from residents and businesses.

Calne Town Council has already pledged £25,000 to the group per year for two years.

Group spokesman, former town councillor Peter Dolman, said: "We are satisfied with how things are going so far and are continuing to take pledges of money or labour while our business plan is being considered by North Wiltshire District Council.

"We have never wanted to get people's hopes up so we will continue to hold back from making promises.

"I can say, however, that public support for the bid has been fantastic and we have had pledges from £1 per month to a £1,000 lump sum."

CLAG hopes to win back former gym members and clubs who, since the closure, have found new venues. The group can be emailed on calneleisurecentreactiongroup@hotmail.co.uk