Gateshead’s Liberal Democrats have attacked plans to shut down two leisure centres this summer.
Birtley Swimming Centre and Gateshead Leisure Centre are both expected to shut on July 21 because of council budget cuts, with a decision on their future due to be taken next Tuesday. While there are plans for both to be transferred to community ownership and hopefully reopened within a matter of months, the Lib Dems have accused civic centre bosses of “undermining” those hopes by closing the facilities down just before the school summer holidays.
Coun Ron Beadle, who leads Gateshead’s opposition party, said: “Firstly, customers may get into the habit of going elsewhere. Secondly, it is far more straightforward for a community asset and its staff to be transferred to an ongoing concern rather than being mothballed.
