Community moves towards bid for Whitworth Leisure Centre

Rossendale’s Whitworth Leisure Centre could be kept open and run by local community organisations, following a move by the town council and a new company.

The 1970s leisure centre which includes a swimming pool is earmarked for closure by Rossendale Leisure Trust and Rossendale Council. A closure decision was made by borough councillors this spring after a report by independent financial experts.

Whitworth Leisure Centre has already changed hands over the years.

In the past, it was run by the Community Leisure Association of Whitworth (CLAW). Then three years ago, it was taken on by Rossendale Leisure Trust, an arms-length charity that operates council-owned facilities.

But circumstances have worsened since then, it is said, with building maintenance, rising costs and council budget pressures cited as challenges.

Rossendale Leisure Trust’s management has changed this year too. Former boss Ken Masser departed and Samantha Sandford became the new chief executive.

The threat of closure has sparked protests in Whitworth this summer and some local campaigners attended a full Rossendale Council meeting in June. Some said the Whitworth centre should be handed to a community group. They emphasised the pool is used by young and old, including local schools.

 

 

Some campaigners also queried the decision-making process and the amount of time Rossendale councillors were given to consider the facts before voting to close the venue.

However at the same June meeting, Rossendale Council leader Alyson Barnes explained the council’s decisions and reasons. She insisted councillors were sufficiently briefed and had understood the issues when they voted for closure at a previous meeting in May.

However, Rossendale Council has also said it would consider transferring Whitworth Leisure Centre as an asset, if a bid was submitted from an organisation with a track record. Some talks were held in July.

Then came this month’s special Whitworth Town Council meeting.

Now, the town council and a new community interest company are sending an expression of interest to the borough, hoping the centre can be transferred.

At the special meeting this month, Whitworth Town Council approved a number of decisions about the leisure centre and next steps. But talks are still at an early stage. Minutes from the meeting have been published on its website.

The minutes state: “It was resolved that an expression of interest is put in to Rossendale Council by Whitworth Town Council, working with the newly-formed Whitworth Leisure Centre Community Interest Company (CIC).”

This was proposed by Councillor Janet Whitehead and seconded by Councillor Dayne Powell, who are both borough and town councillors.

Secondly, it was also resolved that members of the town council’s Finance Monitoring Committee will meet the community interest company to discuss the business plan for Whitworth Leisure Centre. This was proposed by councillors Alan Neal and Michael Whitworth. Councillor Neal is also a borough councillor.

Thirdly, it was recommended that councillors Dayne Powell, Janet Whitehead, David Chorlton and Mike Royds work with the new community interest company to be the communication link with Rossendale Council.

The latest details were discussed in private at the Whitworth Town Council meeting. This is allowed for sensitive ‘exempt’ information, if councillors vote for privacy. Rossendale Council has similarly used privacy measures sometimes.

Twelve members of the public attending Whitworth Town Council had to leave for the private discussion. They were allowed back later. But the leisure centre was the only item discussed because the meeting was a special one.

Robbie Macdonald, Local Democracy Reporting Service