YEOVIL NEWS: Urgent talks needed over planned Westland leisure closure

COMMUNITY groups who use the facilities at the soon-to-close Westland leisure complex have asked Yeovil Town Council for its support.

AgustaWestland is planning on closing the long-established leisure complex in Westbourne Grove at the end of September due to financial reasons.

But ever since the announcement was made a few weeks ago there have been growing calls for the powers-that-be to think again and to realise the implications it will have on the wider Yeovil community.

Not only does the site play host to a number of large events during the years such as charity balls, fun days, functions, weddings and concerts – but it is also home to a large number of clubs, groups and organisations.

With the Westland site set to close later this year it means that Yeovil will be without a key venue and will also leave its user-groups without a home.

Paul Saunders, of the Westland Rifle and Pistol Club, and Brian Pike, of the Westland Sports Cricket Club, both spoke at last night’s (Tuesday, May 26, 2015) town council meeting asking for support.

They are concerned that some of the organisations which use the Westland facilities may struggle to service because of the imminent closure.

“All of the sections at Westlands want to continue using facilities in the town,” said Mr Saunders.

Mr Pike said: “The cricket club has got three senior teams and a thriving youth section with more than 100 boys and girls playing cricket. The youth section is the future of the club - if we lose this it will be a crying shame.

“We’ve had tremendous support from the town council and South Somerset District Council over the years and we are confident that you will do whatever you can to support us now.”

The town council is trying to set up an URGENT meeting with AgustaWestland bosses to discuss the planned closure of the complex – to see if  anything can be done to keep it open.

But Cllr Tony Lock last night said that the council was still to hear back from the company as to when a meeting could be held. He added that it was essential that the council worked with SSDC on the issue.

“This authority in isolation won’t be able to do this,” he said. “We need to be working with the district council on this.

“But we need an urgent meeting with the owners of the Westland club. Many of the user-groups have been in touch with us and we are building a dossier.

“But we are up in the air until we have a meeting with AgustaWestland. We’ve got a lot of questions which need to be asked and we implore to AgustaWestland that this is urgent.”

Cllr Lock said he was dismayed that the first a lot of the user-groups knew about the proposed closure was when they read it in the press and on social media.

Cllr Kris Castle suggested that neighbouring parish councils – such as Brympton and Yeovil Without – should also be involved in the talks.

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