Leisure Centre to close

Middlewich Leisure Centre will close at the end of May – and it may just be the first of many to close.

The facilities will still be used by the the local high school – as it has agreed to fund the centre. This could well be the precursor to other leisure centres being targeted.

In a statement, Cllr Liz Braithwaite, vice chairman of the council’s environment and communities committee, said: “In March last year, this committee made a number of decisions relating to how the council’s available budget to support leisure services can be targeted to where it will have the biggest impact, for the most people, while ensuring leisure services can become more financially sustainable.

“These decisions were made in the context of the council’s medium-term financial strategy and the need to secure savings in leisure services of £1.3m in 2024/25.

“While the council receives no permanent income stream from leisure services, it is responsible for paying building maintenance and utilities costs – which are rising drastically – and it also invests in leisure services through the payment of an annual management fee.

“As part of the decisions made last year, it was agreed that the council’s interest in leisure centres in Middlewich and Holmes Chapel would be withdrawn, which means the facilities are handed back to the schools and they are then free to explore alternative ways of operating them.”

She continued: “As a result, it was recently confirmed that Middlewich Leisure Centre will close in its current form on May 31. We are aware of the concern surrounding this decision.

“Everybody Health & Leisure will be contacting their members with information about accessing their other leisure centres across the borough.

“The facilities at Middlewich will continue to be used by Middlewich High School students for curricular and extracurricular activities.”

The decision came under fire from Cheshire MP Andrew Cooper (Lab) over its decision to offload Middlewich Leisure Centre. He has now vowed to work with the school to see if the facilities can still be used by the public.

That must inevitably involve public users in paying entrance fees.

Mr Cooper said: “Since being elected in July, I have been in regular discussion with Middlewich High School and Cheshire East Council over the council’s decision to remove funding for Middlewich Leisure Centre.

“I believe the council made the wrong decision then, and nothing has changed since to alter my view. Middlewich is a growing town, but with some stark health inequalities that facilities like this are well-placed to address.

“Whilst the gym at the centre is underused, the outdoor pitches and sports halls are regularly booked to capacity, suggesting to me that there was an opportunity to redesign the service offer that has been missed.

“I have been working with Middlewich High School and the Sir John Brunner Foundation on how we can retain some public access to these facilities and I hope to have more to say on this in the near future.”

I’ve said it many times  we’re heading for a time when your council tax will just about cover council employees and councillors wages, payments and pensions. Virtually everything else will be paid for with ever-increasing local town council precepts and direct charges.

Cheshire East is already seeking the views of schools, on taking over running of all its leisure centres. In Macclesfield, The King’s School could have been a supporter of this option, but following the governments VAT raid on private education – leaving many on the verge of bankruptcy, it’s highly unlikely.

But you think it’s bad now? Wait until Cheshire East is devolved into the Cheshire Super-council with Cheshire West and Warrington.