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Over the last 12 months members of the Camelford Leisure Centre Steering Group have been working with Cornwall Council Members and officers to draw up plans to transfer the running of the leisure centre to the local community.
The Steering Group presented a business plan setting out their proposals for the future operation of the leisure centre to key Cabinet Members and senior officers in December. This includes forming an Industrial and Provident Society to run the centre, together with a range of measures to reduce costs and increase income. The plan also outlines a series of ‘phase 2’ developments which would expand and enhance the centre.
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There are still a number of issues which need to be resolved before the centre can be handed over. Over the next few months the Council and the Steering Group will work on solutions to address these points. If the plan can be fully implemented the aim is for the Industrial and Provident Society to take over the running of the centre later this year. In the meantime the Council will continue to fund the operation of the centre, which will be run by Carrick Leisure on behalf of the authority.
Alec Robertson, Leader of Cornwall Council, said: "I am delighted that the community of Camelford and surrounding areas have come together in support of their leisure centre. There is still a long way to go and a lot of hard work to do, but I believe that by working together we now have a proposal from the community which makes it possible to secure the future of the centre."
Eddie Jones, Chair of the Friends Camelford Leisure Centre, said: "This is a tremendous opportunity for the people in Camelford and the surrounding areas to have a significant influence on the future of the Centre and on its development. With a population in excess of 12000 in the area it would be almost unthinkable for the Leisure Centre not to be available for future generations. The Friends are very pleased with the positivity of all parties involved."
(CD/GK)
