Cash blow hits centre’s seating bid

Saturday 14th October 2006, 8:56PM BST.

The centre had been given the grant by the Sita Environmental Trust, but only if the district council added £40,000 of funding.

Council officers decided the money was better spent elsewhere in the centre, so the £25,000 was not taken up.

The new raked seating planned for the sports hall was hoped to attract more entertainment events to the centre.

Leisure centre manager, Paul Felton, said it was disappointing but he understood the council’s decision. He said: “It’s a shame really because we had external funding and now that’s lost, but understandably there are other priorities.”

He said the centre would ultimately lose income without the new seating, as many organisers would now not use the leisure centre.

David Parish, director of community services at Bridgnorth District Council, said lots of money was still being spent on the centre. “There is a clear and defined assessment criteria for new investment in leisure, linked to corporate, strategic and tactical benefits,” he said.