THE deputy leader of the local authority has survived calls to resign in the bitter row over the closure of Richmond's sports centre.

Richmondshire District Council's community committee voted to close the centre in January in a bid to keep a council tax rise to a minimum.

However, there has been an outcry among the centre's regular users, including a popular after-school club, and Richmond's six district councillors demanded an emergency meeting of the authority, last Tuesday.

Mayor of Richmond Stuart Parsons launched a blistering attack on members of the council who supported the closure.

He also said deputy council leader Richard Dunn, chairman of the community committee, had misled the council on the issue and should resign.

Fellow Richmond councillor John Harris said the community committee was asked to vote on the sports centre's closure without having the full facts and, as chairman, Coun Dunn was responsible.

Coun Harris said: "It is clear to me that the chairman of the committee failed to do his job properly. As a result residents now feel completely disillusioned with this council. The chairman of the committee has lost the confidence of the people who use the sports centre and, in that situation, he should resign."

However, Coun Dunn denied misleading the authority on the issue, and a subsequent vote went in his favour.

"We had a full and honest debate on this issue before the community committee vote on January 13," he said.

"We debated it again at the scrutiny panel and again at full council. It has been debated to death and now it's time to move on."

Council leader John Blackie confirmed that a deal had been struck with the after-school club allowing it to remain at the sports centre at least until October.

The majority of sports clubs and groups with block bookings have all been offered an alternative option, although Coun Dunn said it was hoped that Richmond Town Council would consider allowing some groups to use Richmond Town Hall.