8:23am Friday 20th July 2007
By Gazette Reporter
North Wiltshire District Council has agreed to release £60,000 and has awarded a £75,000 grant in a bid to work with the Calne Leisure Action Group to help reopen the Calne Leisure centre.
The council is working with the group on proposals to reopen the Whitehorse Leisure Centre in the town, which closed at the end of March.
The action group, also known as CLAG, has submitted proposals and a business plan that would see them take over the management of the centre and reopen it for public use.
The council has agreed to release £60,000 to the group and it is expected members will now go ahead and apply to become an Industrial Provident Society, which will enable them to benefit from an 80% reduction in rates and claim VAT back as they will be classed as a charitable organisation.
The group has been working very hard over the past 12 weeks on their plans and have undertaken consultation with the public and are generating a great deal of community interest and support.
North Wiltshire District Council's Area Committee has also agreed to a grant of £75,000 that will be used to purchase new gym equipment.
Coun Viv Vines, the lead member for Leisure & Economy, said: "The Calne Leisure Action Group's proposals provide a sound business case and demonstrate that there is the passion and community support for the reopening of the centre.
"We remain committed to working with them and support their efforts to provide a leisure centre for public use in Calne."
Chairman of the Calne Area Committee, Coun Tony Trotman, added: "The Area Committee funding has been awarded as we are well aware locally of the importance and benefits of the Leisure Centre to the people of Calne and surrounding villages.
"The new gym equipment is an important part of CLAG's proposals to increase income and provide a quality gym experience to the public and we are delighted that we are able to support them."
Calne Leisure Action Group representative Peter Dolman said: "We are excited that we now have the support of North Wiltshire District Council to make our plans work."
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