Leisure centre closure plan to be debated

Officials will debate controversial plans to close a leisure centre deemed to be "no longer viable" due to a near-£1m repairs bill.

Baildon Recreation Centre is earmarked for closure by Bradford Council with £913,000 worth of maintenance needed to keep it "safe, accessible and functional".

But local ward councillors and campaigners are hopeful of an 11th hour reprieve after the decision was officially '"called in" for a cross-party review debate under council rules.

Bradford Council needs to make savings across the board to meet a £40m annual shortfall in its finances.

A report prepared by council officers ahead of next month's debate said the centre was underused and offered a "poor" service, and closure would help save £1.25m overall in the next year.

It would also help the authority develop a "fit-for-purpose" sport and leisure offer long term across the district.

But supporters of the centre said the council had simply not marketed the facility enough.

Campaigners also previously claimed the decision to close the centre was made without consulting residents.

Local councillors led by Baildon Conservative representative Debbie Davies have called for further clarity.

Their call-in notice also points out that the centre suffered some damage during the Boxing Day floods of 2015, and questions why "costly refurbishment" at the time had not futureproofed it.

"How, after only eight years, does the building need nearly £1m worth of repairs, which appear not to have been carried out as the problems have arisen?" their call-in notice asks.

The council's report ahead of the January 7 debate confirms the centre "has a £913,000 maintenance cost requirement in order to keep it functioning".

"Operationally, it hugely underperforms with an extremely low number of users, and this is a reflection of the poor customer experience the building provides," it adds.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council's portfolio holder for healthy people and places, previously said the decision to close the centre in April was "not taken lightly."

The authority is already receiving emergency government support to avoid effective bankruptcy.

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