Proposals submitted by community groups and businesses bidding to run six leisure centres in County Durham will now be considered in detail by Durham County Council.

The deadline for submissions passed at noon today, 13 June, and each will now be considered in depth before any decisions regarding the future of the centres is taken.

Earlier this year the council embarked on a three month consultation process seeking alternatives to closure for council-run leisure facilities at:

Abbey Leisure Centre

Coxhoe Leisure Centre

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Deerness Leisure Centre

Ferryhill Leisure Centre

Glenholme Leisure Centre – Crook

Sherburn Leisure Centre

The consultation was launched as part of the authority's requirement to make savings of £123.5 million over the next four years due to large reductions in Government grant. During the 12 weeks 1,915 consultation questionnaires were filled out and there were 21 initial expressions of interest.

Terry Collins is the council's corporate director of neighbourhood services: "I am extremely pleased with the level of interest shown by groups and businesses wanting to take over the centres and can confirm the following.

"We have received 19 bids from ten organisations. These bids relate to interest in all six centres. We will now have to ensure that the proposals are financially robust going forward, meet compliance arrangements as well as our legal requirements regarding the transfer of staff. They will clearly also need to offer the right mix of experience and capabilities for the future."

(CD)