Four leisure centres in Cheshire could close if a commercial operator or alternative funding is not found.
The council funds 13 gyms and studios, nine swimming pools, nine sports pitches and two athletics tracksFour leisure centres could close if a commercial operator is not found or alternative funding is not secured, a council has said.
Cheshire East Council is proposing removing funding for Holmes Chapel, Knutsford, Middlewich and Poynton.Last month, the authority said it wasThe council funds 13 gyms and studios, nine swimming pools, nine sports pitches and two athletics tracks.Under the contract, the council pays an annual management fee to the company and funds all facilities management costs which includes minor maintenance and utility costs.
For the last financial year, the financial management costs were £3.8m - more than £1.5m higher than the previous year.After a review, the council said the four sites in Holmes Chapel, Knutsford, Middlewich and Poynton should lose financial support, with the council seeking to have the sites either operated on a commercial basis, financed by alternative funding or being shut down.
"However, the reality is that these savings are still not enough - costs are rising drastically," he added. "Last year, funding to maintain leisure centres and cover the related utility fees cost the council more than £1m extra, compared to the previous year."published an open letterIt said more than 200 people work across the four sites and the proposals could have "considerable" impact on local jobsIf it is backed by councillors at a meeting next week, a public consultation will start later this month.
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