Leeds Sports Centre's Future Hangs In Balance

The possible closure of South Leeds Sports Centre will be discussed at a Leeds City Council (LCC) executive board meeting next Wednesday.

Leeds City Council's executive board will meet next Wednesday (13 October) to consider recommendations to close the centre in Beeston, but allow local community group Tiger 11 more time to develop plans to take over its management.

The recommendation to close the centre is due to falling visitor numbers and the £25,000 per month running cost that, according to LCC, is causing "financial strain in the context of broader budget pressures". The decision to close the centre, however, would not impinge on any future plans of Tiger 11 to run the centre.

The group has already tabled proposals for a redevelopment that would see the centre closed for a period of time as part of a takeover. The redevelopment plans by Tiger 11, a community group based in South Leeds, are one of various proposals by the group into running the centre as a community enterprise. Another proposal would see the council entering into a six-month agreement with Tiger 11 to allow them to further develop their plans. Councillor Adam Ogilvie said: "We will continue to talk to Tiger 11 while they develop a proposal that they can take forward to the executive board, outlining how they can viably run the centre in the future."

Source: sportsmanagement.co.uk