REDUNDANCY consultations have begun amongst Cornwall’s leisure centre staff as councils in the South West warn some centres ’may never reopen’ unless the Government steps in.

GLL, which runs Cornwall’s public pools and leisure facilities under the Better brand, is facing a £5million shortfall and a predicted continued loss of income. GLL, which is a not-for-profit social enterprise, has not revealed how many jobs are at risk or if any particular locations are threatened.

A spokesperson said: “Throughout lockdown GLL has done everything possible to support all colleagues. We are now at a point where, with much reduced income and the end of the furlough scheme, our business needs to be re-shaped. 

“Consultation regarding redundancy has started with some staff groups."

At present, Saltash and Launceston Leisure Centres are still closed and pools in Bodmin, Liskeard and Bude remain shut.

The industry body ukactive has warned that we could be ’sleepwalking into the loss of public leisure facilities’ in this country. Local authorities do not have a statutory obligation to provide services, and so pools and gyms have fallen through the cracks when it comes to funding.

The Local Government Association says that councils everywhere ’are deeply concerned about the future of leisure facilities’.

“These provide thousands of people and families with access to affordable gyms, swimming pools and exercise opportunities they would otherwise not have,” said chairman of the Culture Tourism and Sport board Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson.

“With many older properties at immediate risk of closure, this will have a negative impact on the population’s mental and physical health."