South Leeds Sports Centre reprieve expected
A sports centre in Leeds which was due to close on Monday looks set to be given a stay of execution.
The city council was due to close the South Leeds Sports Centre in Beeston to coincide with the opening of the new Morley Leisure Centre on Tuesday.
Campaigners have fought to keep it open because they felt alternative facilities were too far away.
On Tuesday, the council is expected to give a community group four months to submit a viable plan to save the site.
A report to the council's executive board meeting on Tuesday proposes to continue operating South Leeds Sports Centre on a limited hours basis for up to four months from 22 June.
This would give it time to evaluate a proposed business plan by community organisation Tiger 11, which wants to take over the running of the sports centre.
'Too far away'
The council says keeping the centre open for another four months will cost it almost £130,000.
Campaigners were staging a march through the Beeston and Holbeck areas of south Leeds on Saturday to urge the council to keep the centre open.
Organiser Sally Cieslik said: "The main thing we would miss would be the swimming pool, which is a small friendly pool where families can go.
"It's warmer than the normal pool you do training in so the little kids can stay in longer.
"The other leisure centre is too far away and not easily accessible on a bus."