Much Wenlock Leisure Centre ‘Left to Deteriorate,’ Councillor Alleges

A local councillor has asserted that a leisure centre, facing potential closure to the public, has been “left to deteriorate.” This facility, situated in the Shropshire town of Much Wenlock – a location widely recognized as the birthplace of the modern Olympic Games – is under the ownership of the academy trust operating the Williams Brookes School, yet its management falls to Shropshire Council. The local authority, currently experiencing considerable budget constraints, has consented to a public consultation process before Conservative leaders make a decision regarding the venue’s future in the coming year. In the interim, Dan Thomas states that the centre represents an asset that is poorly managed and requires enhancement. The leisure centre’s construction concluded in 2010, coinciding with the school’s £27 million rebuilding initiative. Shropshire Council committed to operating and managing the centre, enabling public access to its facilities during evenings and weekends, periods when students were not present. However, Thomas, a Conservative, stated: “Far from being the heart of the community, the leisure centre is closed mostly when people want to use it.” He continued, “Not only are our leisure centre’s hours reduced to avoid school time, it will also be closed from 23 December to 2 January. You wouldn’t run a business like this.” Thomas further added, “Shropshire Council doesn’t manage this facility particularly well.” He also remarked: “I’ve taken my son swimming only to find both the changing room locks and the actual lockers to be broken,” Thomas reported. He concluded, “This is a valued asset for the town and surrounding communities but it has not been used to its full extent.” Should the authority cease its annual subsidy, the town would lose its public leisure centre, though this action would save the council approximately £280,000 annually. The school bears the name of William Penny Brookes, a Shropshire surgeon who established the Wenlock Olympian Games in 1850, an event that subsequently served as an inspiration for the modern Olympic Games. The Wenlock Olympian Society, which conducted its 138th annual sports competition this summer, has labeled the potential closure as “really disappointing” considering the town’s “historic significance in sporting history.” On December 4, Shropshire Council leaders approved an eight-week consultation period. A report detailing the findings is anticipated for discussion at Cabinet in March 2025, at which point council leaders will determine the centre’s future. The council would be required to provide the school with 12 months’ notice if it opts to discontinue financial support. A report indicates that the 3-18 Education Trust is “positively exploring alternative ways of operating the centre.” Robert Macey, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for culture and digital, stated: “It’s very early days but we are encouraged by the conversations we’ve had with the trust so far. We will continue these conversations to hopefully secure the best future for the centre.”