Cricklade campaigners to fight on (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Cricklade campaigners to fight on

11:54am Friday 23rd February 2007 in Swindon By Benjamin Parkes

Campaigners fighting to save Cricklade leisure centre have vowed to continue their cause despite their worst fears being confirmed at last night's council meeting.

North Wiltshire District Council confirmed the death of the leisure centre when it agreed its budget for 2007/2008.

There is no rescue money available for the people of Cricklade to keep their centre open and it will close on March 31 unless a private investor steps in.

Gary Walker, one of the lead campaigners in the town, is not giving up without a fight.

He said: "The council has closed its doors on us but were not giving up. If they think they have had a fight so far they haven't seen anything yet.

"They are playing with the livelihoods of the staff at Cricklade and they have wasted hundred of thousands of pounds in mismanaging the centres to put us in this position.

"We are taking legal advice and looking at the possibility of demanding a judicial review because of the money involved. We won't give up."

The council has made £60,000 available to Cricklade in the form of £5,000 monthly payments.

The money is put aside to pay to keep the building secure in the event of closure.

If Cricklade campaigners can prove they have a viable business plan they can draw on the £60,000 fund.

However the council is making it clear that this is not a rescue package.

A spokesperson said: "The council has made a decision that Cricklade will close on March 31. The security money is available but it is not designed to prop up the centre.

"The campaigners have to be able to take full responsibility for the centre for all eventualities. The council cannot be called upon in times of need to hand over more money.

"If the centre closes in the future after a private group takes over then the council will ask for the money back."

Mr Walker is angry that the council appears to have washed its hands of Cricklade leisure centre.

He said: "They are waving this £60,000 at us but shackling our hands if we take it because they will just demand it back if we fail in the future.

"The people of Cricklade want this centre to stay open and with or without the council's help we'll do it. We won't let the council get away with shirking its responsibilities and the fight is far from over."