Closure plan for South Leeds Sports Centre

Councillors are being recommended to close a Leeds leisure centre despite a campaign by residents to keep it open.

Campaigners have fought to save the South Leeds Sports Centre in Beeston because they feel alternative facilities are too far away.

A report to the city council's executive board recommends the closure.

However it also recommends that the authority continues negotiations with Tiger 11, a community group which wants to take over the site.

The report to the executive board, which meets on Wednesday, says visitor numbers at the centre are falling and the £25,000 per month running cost to the council is causing "financial strain in the context of broader budget pressures".

'Vital facility'

It says a decision to close the centre would not impinge on any future plans of Tiger 11 to run it as the group's proposals include a refurbishment programme, which would see the centre closed for a period of time as part of their takeover.

The report recommends the council enters into a six-month agreement with Tiger 11 to allow them to further develop their plans before it considers other options for the site.

Councillor Adam Ogilvie, executive board member for leisure, said: "This centre has undoubtedly been a vital facility to the community in south Leeds over many years.

"This is why we took the decision earlier this year to keep the centre open during the summer period so that residents could continue to use the facilities while talks were held with Tiger 11.

"We will continue to talk to Tiger 11 while they develop a proposal that they can take forward to the executive board, outlining how they can viably run the centre in the future."