Cornish leisure centres need 'urgent financial rescue package' to survive

• Report by Grace Pascoe

On 25 July, leisure centres, gyms and indoor pools were given the green light to reopen by the government, however many in Cornwall remain shut six months after they closed their doors due to the pandemic.

Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL), which runs the majority of leisure centres in Cornwall, as well as events venues like Falmouth’s Princess Pavilion, is appealing to Cornwall Council and the government for more than £4 million worth of financial support in order to reopen its sites.

Regular users of Wadebridge Leisure Centre say they feel disadvantaged as other leisure facilities are open in Cornwall.

GLL operates the Cornwall Council-owned sites. In a statement Cornwall Council says:

In a statement the Government says:

GLL also runs the venue and gardens at Falmouth’s Princess Pavilion. Falmouth resident Sean Stratton has launched a petition to ‘set free’ the gardens, which have been locked shut for the last six months.

GLL told us seven members of staff are at risk of redundancy at Princess Pavilion and that a rescue package is being sought. It added that, in the meantime, discussions were underway with Falmouth Town Council about it potentially taking on Gyllyngdune Gardens.

GLL expects an update soon on whether or not it will receive any financial support to enable it to reopen further leisure centres in Cornwall.

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