Protest calls for South Leeds Sports Centre reopening

south leeds pool
Campaigners outside South Leeds Sports Centre

Members of the Splashback campaign are continuing their fight to get South Leeds Sports Centre in Beeston reopened. The facilities were closed by Leeds city council in November last year due to falling visitor numbers and high running costs.

Campaigners recently held a protest demonstration outside the boarded up facilities.

Sally Cieslik, of Splashback, said:

“It’s the start of the six-week summer holidays and the children are finding that their local sports centre is closed and there’s nowhere for them to go.”

A Leeds city council spokeswoman said:

“We are exploring all available options for the site and are still keen to hear from anyone interested in taking over the running of the centre. We would encourage any interested parties to come forward as soon as possible.”

The protest gathered substantial press coverage on the Guardian’s Northerner blog and the Yorkshire Evening Post. There was also coverage on BBC Radio Leeds.