Lead theft adds to leisure centre's woes

A new roof is needed for a doomed Black Country leisure centre after metal thieves stripped it of its lead.

The theft at Willenhall Leisure Centre at the start of last month has added weight to the case for closing it, admitted council leader Mike Bird.

He said: "Vandals recently stole the lead from its roof, which was already in a poor condition and there is now a large amount of work required to repair this. We've done an emergency repair to the roof.

"But we reckon that long-term repairs are likely to be in the region of around £20,000.

"Walsall tax-payers wouldn't appreciate us putting new on old, it's not cost-effective and the better solution would be to replace the roof altogether. That alone would cost in the region of £200,000."

Metal thieves stripped lead from the roof of the Bath Street centre, leaving a gaping hole in the roof. The theft was discovered on May 7.

Workers found the damage after checking a security camera at the centre. Thieves scaled the roof and shifted tiles above the main function hall and the gym at the front of the building.

The loss-making centre has now been earmarked for closure on September 30 once a decision is rubber-stamped by cabinet on June 9.

Shutting it will save the council £1 million over the next three years, but the authority is braced for even more cuts in its bid to save £50 million.

"The centre is costing us an arm and a leg to subsidise it and the simple truth is it isn't being used enough," said Councillor Bird.

Defiant residents have not yet given up, with the Friends of Willenhall Leisure Centre now seeking to form a Community Involvement Company to takeover the running of the centre from the council.

The decision to close the centre was made last week, at the same time it was announced an outdoor activity centre in Wales used by thousands of Walsall children since the 1960s.

Both the leisure centre and Bryntysilio in Llangollen were put under threat last year and people told to "use them or lose them".