CORNWALL Council says it is exploring every possible option it can to get swimming pools open again as the writing on the wall begins to look increasingly stark.
Provider GLL has said it faces a £5million shortfall.
With a further loss of income predicted, and redundancy talks now underway, it has made a last-ditch request for help from the local authority.
Meanwhile, growing concerns over the future of the leisure facilities have led to protests in Bude and St Ives.
Following an informal meeting of Cornwall Council’s cabinet last week, during which various proposals to solve the situation were discussed, GLL has now met again with the Council, and a formal paper will go to Cabinet this week for a decision to be made.
Cornwall portfolio holder for Leisure Mike Eathorne-Gibbons said: “My priority, supported by cabinet, is to get the closed centres opened as soon as possible. The pitch from GLL for financial support is substantial, and frankly, we are going to struggle to meet that – our reserves are just about at the minimum they can be.
“But relations with GLL are good and I am sure that we’ll be able to find a solution.”
MP for South East Cornwall Sheryll Murray was also set to meet with GLL last week - and Cornwall Council hoped to gain the ear of the Minister for Sport Nigel Huddleston as he visited the county.
A spokesperson for Mrs Murray’s office said: “Sheryll is very concerned about the effect (of the closures) on local swimmers.
“She has asked how much of the emergency funding the Government gave Cornwall Council to mitigate the affects of COVID was given to leisure centres. We await a reply.”
MP for Bodmin and North Cornwall Scott Mann said that Cornwall Council was “given significant levels of emergency funding by Westminster, but had failed to step up to the mark”.
“Along with my Cornish MP colleagues, I have made representations to the Minister responsible concerning the swimming pools,” he said.
“However, it is disappointing to see that Cornwall Council continue to shift the blame away from areas which are, in fact, their responsibility.”
But Cornwall Councillor for Saltash West Hilary Frank said that she felt central Government should be supporting GLL to reopen facilities.
“Central Government has helped fund leisure centres in other parts of England where they are directly managed by local authorities, but there has been no government funding for leisure services in Cornwall,” she said.
“Saltash Leisure Centre needs to reopen as soon as possible. Leisure centres are part of the answer to the COVID-19 public health crisis because being physically active boosts the immune system and is a good defence against the virus.
“We have elite swimmers, members of swimming clubs and primary school children who are not able to train – a situation which is exacerbated with the ongoing closure of the Life Centre in Plymouth.”
Caradon Swimming Club chairman Clive Shute said he had been fearful for the future of Cornwall’s pools under GLL since prior to the lockdown.
He said it was ‘down to the Council’ to do something.
“In Cornwall we’ve got 1,100 competitive swimmers, it’s a way of life here.”
Earlier this year, he said, his club, which trains at Liskeard and Saltash, had begun to look for alternative venues ‘as GLL were going to put our hire fees up by 95%’.
Thanks to relationships cultivated with St Mellion International Resort and Mount Kelly College, members of Caradon have been able to start swimming at these venues, including a free session at St Mellion for youngsters.
“It’s so appreciated, it’s amazing,” he said.
“Fortunately we’ve been able to get back in the pool, but other clubs have not been able to.
“I’m worried that this is going to make swimming elitist.”