Residents urged to respond to consultation on future of Much Wenlock's leisure centre

Shropshire Council has launched a consultation on plans to reduce its overall expenditure, which could see the future of Much Wenlock Leisure Centre put in jeopardy.

Since 2010, the council has used the facilities at William Brookes School to operate and manage a leisure centre for local residents. The council is now proposing to give 12 months notice to cease operations and withdraw a subsidy for community use. 

The council has said it is part of "leisure savings identified in the council's midterm financial strategy." 

South Shropshire MP Stuart Anderson said the consultation reflects the "new Government's failure to adequately increase funding for rural councils" and has slammed its decision to remove a dedicated grant that had seen Shropshire Council this year equipped with an extra £9 million. 

The Rural Services Delivery Grant had invested more than £100 million in rural councils during 2024/25. Introduced in 2013/2014, the grant recognised the added pressures of delivering council services in rural areas - such as the higher volume of fuel used in refuse collection.

In September 2024, Mr Anderson called on the Government to extend a fund which had helped hundreds of swimming pools across the country - including Teme Leisure Ludlow, which was awarded £208,023 in March 2024.

The Swimming Pool Support Fund provided more than £60 million in additional funding to support the operating costs and to help improve the energy efficiency of facilities. 

In a letter to the Minister for sport, media, civil society and youth, the MP has repeated his call for the fund to be continued.

William Brookes School is understood to be "positively exploring alternative ways of operating the centre." 

A statement issued by Shropshire Council said the school is "keen to explore continuing to provide community use of the leisure centre should Shropshire Council cease operating at the end of a 12-month notice period".

The statement added: "The notice period would enable the school/academy to explore suitable operating models and investigate the potential for acquiring funding to support community use of the centre and capital investment to improve the facility."

Shropshire Council said: "The results of this consultation will be analysed and compiled before returning to cabinet in March 2025 for a decision on whether to adopt the proposals." 

Stuart Anderson said: "Swimming is a fantastic sport that greatly enriches the mental and physical health of people from all backgrounds and generations. As I know myself, it also supports the body in all forms of rehabilitation. 

"My family and I greatly enjoy using the facilities in Much Wenlock. As such, I am very concerned by the prospect of reduced community access to these facilities. It reflects the new Government's failure to adequately increase funding for rural councils. I have already called on ministers to follow the example set by the last Government by providing specific funding for swimming pools and leisure centres. 

"I hope it is a priority for them to get people more active by investing in this way."

The consultation closes on February 5. 

Residents can respond at www.surveymonkey.com/r/MuchWenlock24.