Gateshead has united in a call for its “absolutely vital” leisure centres to be saved from closure.
The Government is being urged to step in with critical funding that would allow cash-strapped local council chiefs to abandon their plans to shut beloved community facilities. Outraged local campaigners, sports clubs at risk of folding, the town’s MPs, Gateshead Council leaders, and more have all pleaded with ministers to offer up the cash needed to prop up the crucial services, at a time when pools and leisure centres across the country are facing an uncertain future.
ChronicleLive is now also backing the campaign to protect the leisure centres, with at least two set to close under drastic budget-cutting plans revealed by the council in October – with the Gateshead Leisure Centre, Dunston Leisure Centre, and the sports hall at Birtley Leisure Centre having been deemed to be under the greatest threat. Civic centre officials say Gateshead’s council-run leisure services have become “unaffordable”, at a time when the authority has had to slash £179m from its budget since 2010 and predicts a £55m financial black hole over the next five years.
The distressing news has been met with a public outcry and widespread fears about the loss of facilities that act as a lifeline for many and are key to the physical and mental health of people in some of the most deprived parts of the North East. It is feared that many users would be unwilling or unable to travel more than two miles to reach another leisure centre if their local one shuts, while the potential loss of Dunston’s deep pool could spell doom for the swimming clubs based there.
Layla Barclay, of the Save Leisure Gateshead campaign group trying to protect their huge centre in Saltwell, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “The leisure centre closing would be absolutely devastating for our community. We are in the most diverse part of Gateshead and we have spoken to so many people over the last few weeks who do not speak English as a first language and do not know it is under threat.
“When I take my kids to the soft play, they are playing with Jewish kids, kids who don’t speak English, kids from other schools, and they make friends there. If we lose that then it is a loss for the community.”
The 38-year-old also has worries about the environmental impact of forcing people to drive to other leisure centres rather than use one on their doorstep and a potential spike in anti-social behaviour if young people are stripped of a place to socialise. She added that Government help to keep the leisure centre going for now would be an “amazing” boost for the community, though added that it “would not absolutely solve Gatehead’s problems” and campaigners believe the facility must be run differently to make it a thriving and profitable hub.
Council leader Martin Gannon wants the Government to promise an annual, ring fenced budget that would protect leisure services and warns that the council otherwise has “no other option” but to consider cuts because of its massive financial pressures and a growing demand for social care. He said: “We are calling on central government to recognise the importance of leisure centres and to make funding available to save our leisure service. Government needs to promise an annual fund of at least £6.6million, which is ring fenced exclusively for leisure services, as if they were just to provide the budget with no clear guidance on the spend, it would be absorbed into other pressure areas.”
A public consultation on the future of Gateshead’s leisure centres remains open until next Tuesday, December 20, so there is still time for the public to have a say by completing the council’s online questionnaire.
Gateshead is far from the only place where the unthinkable prospect of losing facilities that have been central to community life for decades could soon become a reality. It is estimated that 40% of local authority areas in England could be staring down the barrel of closures or reduced hours over the coming months, due to budget costs and spiralling energy bills.
Swim England fears that more than 100 pools could be shut down and is campaigning for the Government to offer both short-term support on energy costs and a ring fenced grant for local authorities that will protect investment in leisure services. Philip Brownlie, the sporting body’s head of public affairs, said: “These pools are absolutely vital parts of local communities. They are hubs where people of all ages can become active.
“One of the strengths of swimming is that it is suitable for a range of health conditions when people might find it difficult to be active on land. Swimming saves the NHS millions of pounds every year, but it won’t if people can’t find the pools they need to stay active and healthy.”
Stevie Speight, president of Gateshead and Whickham Swimming Club, says Dunston is essential to the club’s survival because of its ability to stage galas that generate critical revenue. He added: “Every single authority in the country has the same problem at the moment with the utility and operating costs. What we need is for the Conservative government to support us — funding needs to be made available.”
The Gateshead Synchronised Swimming Club, the only one of its kind in the North East, could also fold if it loses its home. Calling for “proper funding” to save the centre, Blaydon MP Liz Twist said: “People have been telling me over the last few weeks that the centre in Dunston which is under threat is so vitally important to our communities as a place where people can keep fit, where children can learn to swim, and there is a real concern that those things will not be readily available.”
A Government spokesperson said: “We understand the pressures councils are under and are working closely with them to ensure vital public services are protected. We provided an unprecedented £1bn to ensure the survival of professional sport and leisure sectors during the pandemic.
“This is on top of £6.5bn made available to councils this year, including an additional £16m for Gateshead Council compared to last year.”
Read More:
- Gateshead residents say council's plans to close two leisure centres are 'riddled with problems'
- Locals warn of health worries if Gateshead leisure centres aren't saved from 'devastating' closure
- Union claims 'white elephant' Gateshead Stadium should be in closure mix with other leisure centres
- Frontline services in Gateshead face 'urgent' cuts as council grapples with £55m shortfall
- 'It would be absolutely tragic' – Thousands express dismay over Gateshead leisure centre closure plans
