Crunch meeting for campaign to save Bishop's Castle leisure centre

The recently-formed SpArC leisure centre fundraising committee, chaired by Bishop's Castle mayor Karen Bavastock, will meet on Tuesday to examine ways to generate money for the centre.

The committee, part of a wider Don't Let the SpArC Go Out campaign, has set dates for half a dozen fundraising events between now and the start of October to raise £50,000 to overhaul the pool and reduce running costs.

It is hoped that the overhaul will help secure the future of the venue, which includes a swimming pool, gym, cafe and theatre. Shropshire Council will withdraw funding by April 2017.

The meeting will take place at 8pm on Tuesday at the Kings Head pub and is open to all.

Councillor Bavastock said: "I have been approached by so many people who are concerned about the situation with SpArC.

"Some are not keen to join a committee, but want to help and I would urge those people to come along on Tuesday night and share ideas and see if there is anything they could do to help the campaign and fundraising.

"We have a number of events coming up and we will need stewards and volunteers to possibly man stalls and so on, so it would be great if you could come and see if there is something you could help with."

A survey about how people use the centre, issued by the town's Community College and designed by its students, will also be available at the meeting, with the results expected to play a part in shaping the leisure centre's future.

Councillor Bavastock said: "Events planned so far are car washes, colour runs and there are many other things in the pipeline.

"For further information we also have a shop window thanks to Grant Perry, of Drovers Travel. This is kept up to date with fundraising events and progress with how much has been raised so far. It is currently well over £20,000, which is fantastic."

Committee secretary Tracey Huffer added that committee members will be on hand to answer questions at the meeting, but no-one will be pressured into joining any formal committee.

"If you just want to come along and have a drink and find out about an event you would be more than welcome. It is very informal," she said.

"We are grateful to Lee White, landlord of the Kings Head, for giving our committee a home for these coming months."