Future of Cleobury Mortimer Sports and Fitness Centre secured

Cleobury Mortimer Sports and Fitness Centre has been spared, thanks to the tireless efforts of local volunteers and Lib Dem-run Shropshire Council. The previous Conservative administration had marked the centre for closure.

Teme Leisure has opted to continue running the centre to the end of July 2027, ensuring that Cleobury Mortimer Sports and Fitness Centre will remain open and fully operational until the start of the new county-wide leisure contract in August 2027. This means the centre will remain open long into the future. The centre is a key asset for the community and the Lib Dem administration is working hard to ensure that communities have the resources they need to continue to prosper.

The Lib Dem leader of Shropshire Council, Heather Kidd, said: "We are determined that despite the financial pressures at Shropshire Council, we are here to help, we will do everything we can to protect the things that are precious to our residents and communities".

The Friends of Cleobury Sports and Fitness Centre, Shropshire Council, Cleobury Mortimer Town Council and Teme Leisure working together have shown that partnership is the way to achieve great things for local areas; mindless cuts aren't the appropriate way to get Shropshire right again, as had been pursued in the past.

Local resident and Town Councillor Ben Williams said: "The community here in Cleobury had been determined not to lose this centre despite the fact they were told it was hopeless. I have only been on the Town Council since January and the level of work that had already gone into creating a future plan was staggering; thankfully, the new administration at Shropshire Council was willing to listen and happy to help".