Future of Batley Baths still up in the air as Kirklees Active Leisure yet to make a decision
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Three of the borough’s leisure centres – Batley Baths and Recreation Centre, Colne Valley Leisure Centre’s swimming pool and Deighton Sports Arena – closed their doors last year due to KAL’s financial difficulties. The closures were said to be temporary with the situation to be reviewed this March.
However, as protesters had previously speculated, the closures have turned out to be for longer than anticipated. Colne Valley’s pool is the only centre out of the three to have reopened, with the Batley and Deighton centres still closed, despite a £6m rescue package being given to KAL from Kirklees Council in its March budget.
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Hide AdEarlier this year, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) reported that Kirklees Active Leisure planned to close Batley Baths permanently due to its ageing condition and the resulting elevated energy costs. A period of public consultation has since taken place to consider alternative provision, though the findings have not yet been revealed.
A question mark also hangs over Deighton Sports Arena with the centre expected to re-open in some capacity. Details of what this could look like, again, are yet to be determined.
When asked when a decision would be taken on the future of the two sites, a spokesperson for KAL said: “KAL continues to work closely with Kirklees Council and further announcements will be made as soon as we are able.”