Llanfair leisure centre to move?

A local leisure centre is set to move to the town’s high school under cost cutting measures announced by Powys County Council.

The cabinet has agreed to start consultation on the possible transfer of Caereinion Leisure Centre to Llanfair Caereinion High School. The cabinet also agreed to change the way the Staylittle Outdoor Centre operates as well as to close Knighton Leisure Centre in the south of the county.

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Commissioning, Councillor Graham Brown, said; “As part of the council’s drive to reduce spending by £29.8m over the next three years, leisure services have been asked to reduce spending by £200,000 in the next financial year.

“The figure is in addition to the £18m savings projected during the lifetime of the council’s contract with partners Freedom Leisure, who took over management of the county’s sports and leisure centres in July last year. 

“We have been working with the company to identify areas that could generate the necessary savings within relevant time. We have looked at a number of options across the whole service and are concentrating our efforts on areas that have the least public impact, although it is inevitable that there will be change for service users.

“By transferring Caereinion Leisure Centre to the secondary school, we hope the service will be retained for the community to use.

“The planned changes to Staylittle Outdoor Centre will again retain a service within the county but will operate on a commercial basis. An invite to potential operators will be published imminently.

“The closure of Knighton Leisure Centre is regrettable but there is alternative provision within a reasonable travelling distance and the centre is the least used in the county so impact to users is less than it would be in other areas.  However, if alternative options for the building come forward these will be considered.”

The proposals will be subject to consultation with results being reported back to the cabinet later in the year.