CAMPAIGNERS fighting to keep Houghton Regis Leisure Centre open are awaiting a vital decision on its future.
They are now hoping for a reprieve for the Parkside Drive centre, which has been under threat of closure.
For a council report is recommending that a contractor should be appointed to run the facility in 2012/13.
That recommendation will be considered by Central Beds Council’s executive committee on Tuesday, February 14.
An outcry over the potential closure sparked the campaign to save the centre, where the pool was closed down last autumn.
Now the report’s recommendation has been welcomed by Kay Hudgell, publicity officer for the Houghton Regis Leisure Centre Action Group.
This week, she said: “We are absolutely delighted that they are proposing to keep the centre open.
“It is very important for all members of the community, both in Houghton Regis and in the surrounding areas – many people from the villages have used it.
“It is vitally important both from the aspect of youngsters using the centre – if they don’t have the centre then there is very little else for them to do in Houghton Regis – and as a community base for everyone.”
She said that campaigners are also hoping that some way can be found to get the pool up and running again.
The report to next week’s executive committee says: “The proposal to close Houghton Regis Leisure Centre has received a significant amount of objection. There have been a range of reasons for people opposing this option.”
Objections have included fears about how closing the centre would adversely affect the community.
Other factors raised by protestors have included travel costs to other centres, and the suitability and capacity of facilities elsewhere.
Full closure of the centre was postponed and the council has been exploring a number of other options.
Two bids have been received for a one-year contract to run the centre, which could potentially be extended on a year-on-year basis.
And the report’s recommendation is for councillors to appoint the contractor with the winning tender.
The report points out: “Appointing a contractor for 2012/13 enables the council to keep a leisure facility open whilst considering and determining its longer-term role in the respect of the provision and operation of leisure facilities in Central Bedfordshire, as it develops its leisure strategy.”