CONTENTIOUS plans to close Pontllanfraith leisure centre are set to be considered once again, after a previous decision to shut the facility was blocked by a judge.
A Caerphilly council cabinet decision to close the leisure centre was quashed in the High Court in the summer, on the grounds the authority failed in its equality duty when making the decision.
In the High Court judgement, it was said that the council needed to consider the impact of the closure on vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and disabled.
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But a draft report set to be considered by councillors next week, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, once again recommends the closure of the leisure centre.
A new equalities impact assessment carried out by the council says the closure of the leisure centre “will have a negative impact upon older people who may have limited mobility and upon people with disabilities.”
“This is because it will result in longer travel times and distances to alternative facilities depending on point of origin and the extent to which they currently use Pontllanfraith Leisure Centre,” the report says.
“There will also be a negative impact on younger people who do not drive, or have no access to travel by private vehicle.”
However the report says a decision can be “justified and lawful where there is a detrimental consequence for those with protected characteristics that cannot be entirely mitigated.”
It also says the “negative impact” is mitigated by other leisure centres in the borough being “fully accessible.”
The council says closing Pontllanfraith leisure centre would allow it to offer improved facilities at its four other sites, identified in a 10-year strategy for sport and recreation.
The leisure centre costs around £125,000 per year to run, and has become more expensive since the closure of Pontllanfraith Comprehensive School.
Campaigner Shane Williams, who took the case to the High Court, said the closure of the leisure centre would result in thousands of people being “denied access to sport and fitness.”
“There is so much opposition throughout the whole of the community,” Mr Williams said.
Protests are being planned against the proposed closure, with the first to take place outside Caerphilly council offices next Wednesday, October 16, when the report is due to be discussed by councillors.
Pontllanfraith ward councillor Gez Kirby said he will urge the council’s environment and sustainability scrutiny committee to reject the proposed closure.
“We need a fresh start,” councillor Kirby added.
“It’s time Caerphilly council’s leadership started listening to the communities it represents.”
A spokesman for Caerphilly council said: “The recent High Court judgement focused on the need for a detailed Equalities Impact Assessment and we have now taken steps to address this issue.
"We appreciate that there is local opposition to this proposal, but we have a 10-year strategic vision for the delivery of sport and active recreation in the future and we need to start doing things differently.
“A lot of money has been invested in modern, state-of-the-art facilities in the surrounding area to ensure there is adequate alternative provision for users affected by the proposed closure.”
The scrutiny committee will consider the recommended closure next week before cabinet make a final decision which is expected later this month.
THE STORY SO FAR:
- June 21, 2018: Half of Caerphilly's leisure centres under threat of closure
- June 26: Councillors speak out about potential closures of Caerphilly leisure centres
- September 1: Past and present MPs for Islwyn oppose Caerphilly leisure closures in joint statement
- September 6: Leisure centre closures would 'destroy' Caerphilly communities, meeting hears
- September 29: AM's concern over leisure centre closure plans
- October 11: Caerphilly leisure centre closure petition reaches 5,579 signatures
- November 4: Hundreds of Blackwood protesters joined by Lord Kinnock and MP Chris Evans
- November 11: Heated debate over Caerphilly council's controversial leisure strategy
- November 12: Labour's Islwyn MP Chris Evans slammed by Caerphilly County Borough Council's leaders for joining protestors
- November 14: Future remains uncertain for Caerphilly leisure centres as strategy passes
- February 19, 2019: Senior councillors to hold talks on future of Pontllanfraith leisure centre
- March 19: Pontllanfraith leisure centre could close by end of June this year - despite fierce opposition
- March 14: Protest held by campaign group hoping to save Pontllanfraith Leisure Centre
- March 27: Motion to close Pontllanfraith leisure centre fails ahead of final vote
- April 9: Caerphilly accused of 'land grab' amid plans to shut Pontllanfraith leisure centre
- April 10: Council votes to close Pontllanfraith Leisure Centre despite widespread opposition
- April 12: Decision to close Pontllanfraith Leisure Centre met with anger and disappointment across political divide
- April 16: Motion to reconsider decision to close popular Pontllanfraith Leisure Centre rejected by Caerphilly council
- April 18: Islwyn MP Chris Evans' 'difficult meeting' with Caerphilly council leader Dave Poole
- May 17: High Court blocks Pontllanfraith Leisure Centre closure pending hearing
- May 20: Campaigners "will not give up without a fight" over proposed closure of Pontllanfraith leisure centre
- May 24: The battle to save Caerphilly leisure centres from closure
- June 24: Pontllanfraith leisure centre must stay open, rules judge - but council set to try again for closure
- June 19: Pontllanfraith leisure centre closure: Strategy adoption branded as 'unreasonable' at hearing
- July 8: Labour row in Gwent as Islwyn constituency branch complains to Welsh party about Caerphilly council's cabinet
- July 16: Leaked email from Caerphilly council leader warns of ‘high impact’ cuts to cover cost of Pontllanfraith leisure centre legal challenge
- July 21: Leisure Centre ruling shows it is "too easy" for vulnerable people to "fall through the cracks", says AM
- July 29: Caerphilly Labour councillors to rebel against any cuts made to pay court costs
- August 5: Caerphilly council leader rows back on threat of cuts to pay off costs of legal challenge
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