PARALYMPIC hopeful Lyndon Longhorne yesterday spoke of his disappointment that his home town leisure centre is one of three County Durham facilities recommended for closure by council officers.

Centres in Ferryhill, Crook and Sherburn are facing closure, while those in Pity Me, Ushaw Moor and Coxhoe look likely to be saved.

Durham County Council had been considering closing all six, but The Northern Echo revealed yesterday that officers have urged councillors to close only three while outlining plans to save the others.

Many campaigners were braced for even worse news after the council raised concerns for nearly all of the 13 takeover bids to operate the leisure centres, three weeks ago.

Lyndon Longhorne, 15, who lost both his legs and an arm to meningitis when he was eight months old, uses the pool at Glenholme Leisure Centre, in Crook, as he trains towards becoming a paralympic swimmer.

He said he was not surprised by the recommendations.

He said: “I’m disappointed, I think it will have a big impact on my training sessions and my family, and all the other people who use the leisure centre.

“I’ve been given a lot of support from the staff and I wish them all the best for the future.”

The Northern Echo revealed yesterday that officers believed only takeover bids for Deerness and Coxhoe leisure centres met the legal criteria regarding transfer of staff.

Pity Me’s facility is expected to survive because a covenant agreement requires it continue as a sports facility until at least 2014. To cut costs, it will only be open at peak times.

However, council chiefs’ concerns over employment law, income predictions and reliance on non-existent council funding look set to seal the fate of the other three leisure centres.

The Labour-controlled county council will make the final decision when it meets next Wednesday and it is understood the Labour Party has already discussed it.

Phil Wilson, MP for Sedgefield, said: “The council has said it will still talk if anyone comes along to save these centres, but we have to be realistic and we don’t want to offer false hope.

“The Government is forcing more than £60m in cuts on the council in 12 months and councillors have to make some tough decisions that they won’t necessarily like.”

However, Liberal Democrat councillor Carol Woods said campaigners fighting to save Sherburn Leisure Centre would hold a meeting and vowed: “The fight will continue.

“We haven’t ruled out anything and that includes a legal challenge to the procedure. It is still within the council’s reach to save these centres.”