Dismayed protesters have demanded that council chiefs think again about contentious plans to shut at least two leisure centres in Gateshead.
Dozens of locals demonstrated outside Gateshead Civic Centre on Tuesday morning, waving placards and chanting that they would “fight back” against the devastating closures. The Gateshead Leisure Centre in Saltwell, Dunston Leisure Centre, and potentially the sports hall at Birtley Leisure Centre have been deemed to be at greatest risk under major budget cuts from council finance chiefs.
Campaigners gathered outside the local authority headquarters and pleaded with councillors to find a way to save the facilities, warning that their loss would be catastrophic for the physical and mental health of the thousands of people who use them. It comes after the council, MPs, sports clubs, residents, and the Chronicle issued a call last week for the Government to step in with funding to save the community hubs.
