THE fight is on to save the Ryland Centre as fears grow for a potential private sale of the well-loved leisure facility.
Last year it was confirmed that Sandwell Leisure Trust (SLT) which currently operates the Ryland Centre will no longer be managing services.
Worcestershire County Council which owns the leisure centre says SLT will no longer be operating the facility from March.
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Over the past few months, concerns have grown for the future of the Ryland Centre – the only place to contain a running track in the area.
Now, Bromsgrove Liberal Democrats are calling on to Bromsgrove District Council to step in and save the centre from being privately sold.
Cllr Siobhan Robinson, who has submitted a motion to the Bromsgrove District Council said: “I am absolutely appalled that Worcestershire is selling the family silver off in this way.
“There is, as yet no cast iron guarantee that the new owner will continue to make the facilities available to local schools and the community in the same way, let alone what the cost might be.”
However, leader of Bromsgrove District Council, Cllr Karen May has assured that whoever the Ryland Centre is sold to, community and sports provision has to be provided.
She said: “There is a covenant on the leisure centre saying there has to be access for sports and youth provision for the community.
“I have been informed that the parties involved are looking to invest.
“I absolutely welcome all investment in the Bromsgrove district which enables the facilities we offer to be enhanced.”
Lib Dem Group Leader Cllr Rob Hunter said: “After the continued uncertainty over the future of the Artrix, we simply cannot allow yet another one of Bromsgrove’s much-loved community facilities to face an uncertain future.
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“We must act now, and I completely back Siobhan’s call for Bromsgrove District Council to step up to the plate”.
Worcestershire County Council remains tight-lipped about the future of the leisure centre but says they are in discussions about its future and ‘will be in a position to say more about the arrangements when the discussions are complete’.
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