Powys County Council has said that it will be revealing its decision regarding the future of the county's leisure centres in the new year.
Having carried out an in-depth review of leisure centre facilities throughout Powys in July 2023, Powys County Council has confirmed that a conclusion is near, with further details expected to be released in 2024.
Over a year after proposing and then reversing a move to temporarily close a number of leisure centres in the county, Powys Council has yet to reach a decision following an extensive review into the running costs of leisure centres.
A spokesperson for Powys County Council said: “The review of leisure provision in Powys is reaching a conclusion with a Scrutiny Group working through information and data collected, collated and analysed as part of the process.
“It is expected that further detail will be shared in the new year as part of the council’s Sustainable Powys agenda and plans.”
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The review follows the council’s decision to scrap plans to temporarily close three leisure centres and three swimming pools in Powys in December 2022, proposing to close the facilities counter rising energy costs and the cost-of-living crisis.
The proposal included the temporary closure of Llanfair Caereinion, Llanfyllin and Presteigne leisure centres and swimming pools at Llanidloes, Rhayader and Builth. Powys Council eventually backed down from the proposition following public backlash.
The ensuing review into the facilities, which started in June 2023, reportedly considered the provision, usage, running costs, carbon emissions and building conditions of facilities as they currently stand, as well as other active leisure opportunities available to the people of Powys.
Following the initial proposal and subsequent U-turn, Montgomeryshire MP Craig Williams: “We must now have a serious discussion about long term plan for our leisure centres.
"They are critical for our communities, I will work with Russell George MS and Powys councillors in the new year to discuss options with the cabinet member.”
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