Campaigners collect 3,000 signatures to save sports centre

The group wants to halt the demolition of Whitcliffe Mounts Sports Centre in Cleckheaton, which could be closed by May next year.

The council planned to build a new sports centre and school on another site but campaigners are worried it could leave people who use the centre without any facilities for years.

Campaigner Dr Graham Morley said: “First of all we don’t want it knocking down, it’s such a good community facility and it is beneficial for not just people’s physical health but their mental health as well. North Kirklees is the worst for health and to withdraw it from public use is not good.”

The group has taken legal advice on applying for a judicial review, saying that people who use the centre were not consulted.

But Dr Morley said they would wait until the council makes its next move before taking that option.

The group understands it will have a 15 minute debate at the next full council meeting on October 7, 6pm, at Huddersfield Town Hall.