Whitworth Leisure Centre to close in July

Whitworth Leisure Centre will close in July, Rossendale Borough Council and Rossendale Leisure Trust has announced.

The centre, which was taken over from Community Leisure Association Whitworth (CLAW) three years ago, is currently operating at a annual loss of £280,000.

Independent financial experts have recommended closing the centre as soon as possible to prevent ‘severe financial risk’ to both Rossendale Council and Rossendale Leisure Trust.

The closure will come into effect from July, with the leisure centre remaining open as normal until then.

However, the council has said a “wider leisure vision” includes proposals for a new facility ‘in the east of the borough’, which could include Bacup.

In October, as many as 12 schools from Rossendale and Rochdale used the pool for swimming lessons in addition to Whitworth Swimming Club meeting on two nights each week.

A spokesperson for Rossendale Council said: “The decision to close Whitworth Leisure Centre has not been taken lightly and comes largely as a result of the cost-of-living crisis, which has resulted in a huge increase in energy prices. As well as higher fuel bills the council has faced increases in interest payments and staffing costs, all of which need to be absorbed into already squeezed budgets.

“We must ensure the council can operate properly to continue to provide the essential services that our residents rely on.

“Rising demand across all services means a higher proportion of council budgets are absorbed by statutory and frontline services whilst we’re also facing severe inflationary pressures. This means our ability to maintain levels of service provision in sport and leisure is increasingly under pressure. The need for a continuing national discussion and action for offsetting these immediate financial pressures in public leisure remains.

“The closure of the leisure centre is a real blow for the community, but the financial issues faced by the trust mean we don’t have a choice. We need to address these financial issues urgently and it is important to note that other facilities may also be at risk if immediate action is not taken.

“We urge our residents to understand the seriousness of the financial situation and the need for this immediate action to ensure sustainability of both the trust and the council.

“We will continue to work with the community in Whitworth to ensure that the closure of the leisure centre is carried out in a way that minimises the impact on the wider community as much as possible, and to ensure they benefit from our wider leisure vision which was agreed at Council in December 2022.

“This include proposals for a new facility in the east of Rossendale when funding is identified, and we’ll continue to lobby government and other parties for this much-needed investment into Rossendale.

“We thank residents for their understanding and cooperation during this challenging time.”

 

 

Facit and Shawforth, and Healey and Whitworth Councillors Scott Smith, Dayne Powell and Janet Whitehead have released a joint statement outlining their ambitions for a replacement in the town.

They said: “We are devastated by the council’s decision that Whitworth Leisure Centre is to close permanently and what it means for residents and staff at the centre.

“We know how much the baths mean to residents - and how our community pulled together to save them when they were threatened with closure in the past.

“Sadly, the baths have been allowed to reach such a state that this is not an option this time around.

“We are putting our differences aside to tell you that our belief as your councillors is that our focus must now be on securing a new pool here in Whitworth.

“So far the Labour administration have only committed to building a new pool in the ‘East of the Borough’ (i.e. Bacup or Whitworth). That is not good enough. We will settle for no less than a replacement for the baths being built here in our town.

“We know you will be angry, and will have lots of questions. We propose to hold a public meeting as soon as possible. In the meantime, please contact us and we will do our best to help.”