Ellie calls for leisure centre to be saved
Paralympic swimmer Eleanor Simmonds MBE has backed campaigners in their battle to save a Black Country leisure centre from the axe.
Walsall-born Ellie, aged 15, said Willenhall Leisure Centre was a "necessary part of the local community".
The Olympic gold medal winner urged Walsall Council to rethink their proposals to close the centre in Bath Street under plans to save the authority more than £800,000 over the next three years.
Fresh from two gold medal wins at the World Short Course Swimming Championships held in Brazil last week, Eleanor, from Aldridge, said: "It is never a good idea to close a local swimming pool as there are not enough in the country as it is.
"It is very important for young children to learn to swim and feel confident in the water and they can only do it at their local pool.
"I learned to swim at my local pool. Where would I be now if the local authority had chosen to close that?"
The closure of the leisure centre has been earmarked in the council's draft budget plan for next year, when it aims to save £11.2 million by cutting services and jobs.
It comes despite a rise in visitors at Willenhall from 80,784 in 2008/09 to 95,000 this year. Finance bosses said the centre was operating at a loss of £965 per day.
But campaigners in the town have already collected 3,000 signatures from upset residents.
