CALLS for councillors to have the final say on plans to close several leisure centres in Caerphilly borough have been backed.

The authority’s sport and active recreation strategy proposes to deliver leisure services from four key sites – leaving four of the authority’s 10 leisure centres with uncertain futures.

Under the council’s constitution only the council’s cabinet can approve the strategy, but some councillors believe the decision should be referred to a full council meeting.

A motion calling for a vote on the adoption of the strategy was unanimously supported by the council’s regeneration and environment scrutiny committee on Tuesday.

Councillor Kevin Etheridge, who presented the motion, said: “I believe that the strategy is a county borough wide strategy and all members need an input into the debate.”

The Independent group leader represents Blackwood, where two leisure centres – Cefn Fforest and Pontllanfraith – are at risk of closure.

READ MORE: Half of Caerphilly's leisure centres under threat of closure

After controversial plans to close Pontllanfraith leisure centre were scrapped earlier this year, Cllr Etheridge said: “I don’t want the same thing happening again, and I want us the show we are a council that listens to its people.

“More than 3,700 children attended sport schemes over the summer. I believe we owe it to the residents and the children to ask cabinet to refer this to a full debate at council.”

Cllr Etheridge also suggested that the debate could be held at a full council meeting in January.

The motion has been supported by councillors from all political parties, including committee member Councillor Robert Gough.

The Plaid Cymru councillor said: “In light of what happened last time, its only right and proper in the way we operate under the transparency agenda that we allow this to be discussed at full council.”

Labour councillor Tom Williams, who also supported the motion, described the issue as” incredibly important” while Independent councillor Graham Simmonds described the strategy’s financial implications as “intense”.

More than 5,500 people have signed a petition to save the facilities in Pontllanfraith and Cefn Fforest, while also raising concerns for New Tredegar leisure centre and the Sue Noake Centre in Ystrad Mynach.

Councillors Zoe Hammond, Rhys Mills, Kevin Dawson, Tom Williams, Andrew Farina-Childs, Kevin Etheridge and Gerwyn James with the petition outside Penallta House.

A public consultation on the strategy saw the council receive 711 completed questionnaires and a further 20 written responses.

The results will feed into a final report that will go before a special meeting of the committee on November 8 before going to cabinet on November 14.