Dewsbury Leisure Centre Closure Plan to Undergo Scrutiny

The proposed permanent closure of a leisure centre, characterized as a “cornerstone of the community,” is scheduled for examination following public opposition. Dewsbury Sports Centre ceased operations in September 2023 after collapse-prone reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) was discovered on site. Kirklees Council stated that refurbishing the site would be excessively costly and, consequently, approved its permanent closure during a meeting held last week. However, following a call-in of the decision by councillors representing the Community Alliance party, the matter will now undergo additional scrutiny. Cathy Scott, a former council leader, informed a meeting on Tuesday that the closure “threatens the well-being of the entire town.” She further stated, “Dewsbury Sports Centre is not merely a facility, it’s a cornerstone of our community.” “It’s a place where people of all ages come to exercise, socialise and learn.” Scott, representing Dewsbury East, indicated that a report assessing the building’s condition revealed no Raac on the “dry side,” suggesting the authority could have investigated possibilities for its re-opening. She accused the council of “stripping away a crucial source of health and social activity in a rush to balance the books.” Tanisha Bramwell, a councillor for Dewsbury West, also voiced opposition to the plans, asserting that the council’s decision was both “wrong and negligent.” The Independent councillor recounted that the sports centre had served as a vital resource during her teenage years, preventing her involvement in anti-social behavior and gang-related activities. She stated, “The youth workers took me from my estate to the sports centre and it was there I found my love of football and joined a team.” “I did, and saw, so many opportunities because the centre bridged that gap.” Kirklees Council indicated that refurbishing both the wet and dry sections of the centre would incur an approximate cost of £10m. The facility had been operating at the largest deficit among all Kirklees Active Leisure-run (KAL) facilities, incurring losses exceeding £1.1m annually. In response to these comments, Beverley Addy, the cabinet member for adult social care and health, affirmed that the decision “was not a choice.” She emphasized, “The Raac is real, the figures are real.” “Nothing can take away the pain of the loss of a centre which holds such nostalgic and important memories that have influenced people lives.” She also stated that the authority would be “making new opportunities for people and looking after people’s public health.”