People power could be about to save the day after Powys County Council said it was having a rethink over plans to close Staylittle Outdoor Centre.
The facility, near Llanidloes, has serviced a generation of kids from our area and over 5,000 people have signed a petition to try and change the council’s mind to close it.
The council’s only outdoor education centre has been managed by Freedom Leisure since July 2015 and was removed from the county-wide leisure management contract to generate annual savings of more than £130,000.
Cabinet Member for Leisure, Councillor Rachel Powell, said: “Closing Staylittle was not an easy option but it was the only action available to the council at the time. Funding pressures on the service meant that decisive action had to be taken and attempts find alternative operators had proved unsuccessful.
“While we received expressions of interest, business plans and proposals presented to the council were not strong enough to give the necessary confidence that the centre had a viable future.”
Cabinet Member for Property, Councillor Phyl Davies said: “The council will continue investigating all avenues to ensure the centre has a viable and sustainable future. Discussions are already taking places within different services areas and we will take those discussions further afield to give the centre the best possible future.
“Staylittle is an important asset in a wonderful location and we believe that with the right approach, imaginative thinking and a sound business model it could have a bright future. We will work with any organisation, private or public, to investigate possible options for its long-term future.
“We are determined to make the best possible use of the facility for the residents of Powys, but, whatever plans are considered they have to be robust and demonstrate that the centre has a long and sustainable future,” he added..