FIVE parties are interested in taking on the running of Launceston Leisure Centre when its lease with GLL (Better) comes to an end next year and local Cornwall councillors are feeling positive despite the outcome of last week’s full council meeting.

An attempt to enable all 87 councillors to have a vote on the future of Cornwall’s leisure centres failed at the full Cornwall Council meeting last week, as a petition, signed by more than 5,000 people, was noted by the council with no further action to be taken.

However, Launceston councillors are remaining positive, with one saying they feel “reasonably confident” that Launceston’s centre will remain open.

Despite, what was for many, a disappointing outcome at the full council meeting, county councillors for Launceston North and North Petherwin Adam Paynter (Ind) and Altarnun and Stoke Climsland Adrian Parson (Lib Dem) were proud of the local support the petition had garnered.

Following the meeting Cllr Parsons told the Post: “Firstly I would like to thank all the residents for their action on the most recent petition with regards to concerns about the future of our Cornish leisure centres. It had been hoped that due to the fact over 5,000 residents had signed that any decision on the leisure centres in Cornwall would be put to a meaningful vote of all 87 councillors at a full council meeting.

“It had also been hoped that we would have been able to discuss and debate the challenges faced by our providers at today’s meeting.”

Cllr Parsons continued: “Within the debate I had hoped to raise the following criteria which could have been used in the decision making process and not just financial considerations: The value of leisure centres in promoting health and well being benefits of exercise and fitness and the knock on effect on council services and the NHS of poor health; reliance on car travel to access leisure centres both from a climate change and levelling up perspective to address health inequalities; rights of children as outlined in the children’s rights approach framework recently agreed. The impact on children should be assessed; equality of access to allow adults and children to learn to swim and understand water safety, a statutory element since 1994 in the school curriculum at key stage 1 and 2; developing excellence and enabling the talented to thrive and be the best they can be on an equal basis.”

During the full council meeting, chairman Pauline Giles reiterated that the action requested in the petition — to defer a decision on the closure of leisure centres to full council — would be illegal, as such a decision must be made by Cornwall Council’s cabinet.

In light of this decision, Cllr Parsons added: “Unfortunately we were told by the chairman of the council that due to legal restrictions the council were prevented from debating or voting on this issue. This was due to the wording of the petition, although the chairman did allow for the issue to be discussed for 15 minutes. This allowed the group leaders to put forward their views and reports on the ongoing situation. Although many valid concerns and possible actions were raised the final decision made on our Leisure Centre will be made by the 10 members of the Conservative cabinet at Cornwall Council. All in all a slightly disappointing day, with the petition not delivering what most of us had hoped.”

Cllr Paynter agreed that all councillors should have a say on the future of leisure services in the county. He said: “I have signed the petition launched by my group which has been hugely popular with Cornish residents who also believe that all councillors should have a meaningful vote on any closures not just the 10 person Tory cabinet. All councillors should have a say on leisure centre closures. I will continue to fight to ensure all leisure centres stay open, especially the Launceston leisure centre.”

There seems to be light at the end of the tunnel for Launceston however as the Coronation Park Trust, which owns the land the Phoenix centre is built on, are keen to take back control once the lease with GLL (Better) expires next year.

Launceston South Cllr John Conway says GLL are “no friend of Launceston” and hopes a new provider can be found.

He told the Post: “The contract with GLL is flawed and was signed by the previous administration.

“Thankfully the Coronation Park Trustees lease expires in January 2021 and Cornwall Council have given assurances that the centre will be returned in good order. Their estimate of the repairs necessary exceed £1-million.

“There are five parties interested in taking on the centre and I am confident that the centre can be saved. Cornwall Council have also announced that monies may be available to support running costs of the centres under threat for a limited period.

“I believe GLL are no friend of Launceston and look forward to the phoenix rising again under a provider who will work for the benefit of our town and surrounding area.”

Regarding the outcome of last week’s meeting Cllr Conway added: “The petition presented last Tuesday was flawed legally and councillors were not legally allowed to vote on the retention of leisure centres. We are all aware of the overwhelming public opinion wishing to retain all the centres for public health and wellbeing.

“I would like all local communities to be given the opportunity of running their leisure centres not just those running at a loss.

“May I take this opportunity to thank everybody who has contacted me expressing support for the Phoenix, especially the local schoolchildren. Every communication has been shared with those who make the decisions.”

The cabinet is due to make a decision on the Saltash, Launceston, Wadebridge and Falmouth centres and the hydrotherapy pool at St Austell on December 15.