New hope for Willenhall Leisure Centre

The Amateur Swimming Association could help reopen Willenhall Leisure Centre, it can be revealed today.

The governing body for swimming is one of four interested parties to be taken on a tour of the Bath Street site by the council.

The group has formally expressed an interest in taking it over. Other parties include bosses of Aston Arena in Birmingham and an organisation which wants to turn the centre into a banquet hall. Willenhall Leisure Centre was closed in August as part of council cost-cutting.

The cuts are aimed at saving up to £22 million this year and the centre's closure flew in the face of a campaign to keep it open by hundreds of people.

The swimming association could take the centre on in a community asset transfer from the council. It would mean the council hands over the centre at no cost for it be run in conjunction with community groups.

Walsall Council leader councillor Mike Bird said: "I know about the interest from the Amateur Swimming Association and other parties but we have had no concrete offers yet.

"We would consider a community asset transfer at no cost but we would have to make sure it is a good deal for the people who want to use the centre.

"I have always said if someone can run it better than us then put your money where your mouth is, we could not afford to lose £900 per day keeping the place open."

The benefit of a community asset transfer would be that the council would keep a facility in Willenhall but without having to foot the bill for the running costs or for the security of an empty building.

Willenhall councillor Sean Coughlan said: "I think this would be welcomed by everyone as it would mean Willenhall keeps its own swimming pool and leisure centre. It would mean the council would have to accept transferring the centre to become a community asset."

Leisure chiefs say that the site was the one selected for closure because it was the borough's poorest performing leisure centre. Camp-aigners battled to save the centre — opened in 1938.