Residents band together to save Deepings Leisure Centre

Residents are refusing to give up hope of reopening a town leisure centre.

South Kesteven District Council was to spend £10.7 million on repairing the Deepings Leisure Centre, which is also used by The Deepings School.

But plans for a new roof and revamp were ditched because the council could not afford it.

Now a group has decided to press ahead with plans and want to try and reopen the leisure centre themselves.

Chairperson of the group, Virginia Moran, who lives in the Deepings and is a district councillor who opposed the closure, said she ‘took the bull by the horns’.

“I think we have come a long way in a short time.

“We have now got a trusted group together,” she added.

The group is setting up a charitable community trust to access grant money and to fundraise.

Trustees have already spoken to Lincolnshire County Council, which owns the building, and representatives from The Deepings School.

Last week they visited the leisure centre.

“It was really sad that the pool was full of dirty rain water but we were also really encouraged,” said Ms Moran, who is acting outside her role as a councillor.

“There is nothing actually wrong with the structure of the building other than we absolutely have to replace the roof.”

All the equipment has been removed from the gym and the building is empty.

Under the group’s plans, the swimming pool will be restored first and the rest of the centre will follow, with volunteers helping to operate it.

“We want to do things the right way, so that the community benefits,” said Virginia.

South Kesteven District Council said refurbishment would cost £10.7 million.

After conversations with suppliers and design experts, Ms Moran believes they can cut this cost, with many businesses offering to charge for materials only.