Sherburn villagers get keys to leisure centre (From The Northern Echo)

Sherburn villagers get keys to leisure centre

6:04pm Tuesday 7th February 2012 in Durham City News By Mark Tallentire

VILLAGERS who saved their leisure centre from closure got their hands on the keys to the facility on Tuesday.

Durham County Council chairman Dennis Morgan officially handed over the keys to Sherburn leisure centre, in Sherburn Village, to leaders of Sherburn Parish Council.

The centre will be run by Sherburn Future, a limited company which is applying for charitable status.

Sherburn councillor Carol Woods, an unpaid director of Sherburn Future, said: "I’m really, really pleased we’ve got the keys.

"I think this is a major achievement, not only for the parish council but for all the people in Sherburn and the surrounding area.

"We’ve signed a 35-year lease, which means the building and the two football pitches are maintained for 35 years. That’s phenomenally positive for the village."

Facing cuts of nearly £150m, Durham County Council closed the centre on October 1, but only having agreed to hand it over to the community weeks earlier.

The centre will be entirely run by volunteers as a members-only club, with affordable membership charges. Various charges will apply for different activities.

A children’s club will be held during the February half-term school holiday before the facility opens to the public on Monday, April 2.

Sherburn Future, which has former Durham City Council chief executive Brian Spears as managing director and Sherburn Parish Council chairman Stuart Walton as chairman, hopes to generate the £1,000-a-month in income needed to cover the centre’s costs ‘quickly’, Councillor Woods said, and raise extra cash to improve the building.

Supporters also hope to host sport, exercise sessions, community classes and meetings and run a kitchen, cafe and Internet cafe.

Sherburn Parish Council, Sherburn Consultants and Durham Cottages are offering financial support. However, the parish council is not raising its precept to support the facility.

More volunteers are wanted to improve the building and staff the reception. For more information, visit sherburnfuture.com Under the same council cuts, Crook leisure centre closed, Pity Me’s had its hours cut, Ushaw Moor’s reopened as a gymnastics academy and Coxhoe’s became a community venture. Ferryhill’s looks set to reopen as a community facility in March.