MIDDLEWICH Leisure Centre could be under threat of closure after a new proposal to withdraw its funding was revealed.

Cheshire East Council's environment and communities committee is to meet to discuss its leisure services across the borough.

This comes as the council is facing mounting financial pressure, with an £18.7 million shortfall forecast for this year's budget.

The plans, which include funding being removed from other centres such as Knutsford, Holmes Chapel and Poynton, would see the sites either close or be operated on a commercial basis.

Chair of the committee, councillor Mick Warren, said: “The health and wellbeing of our residents is extremely important to the council, and leisure centres and the services they offer are a key part of supporting our residents to lead healthier lifestyles.

“But, in the context of the wider financial challenges the council is facing, we must consider the long-term affordability of these services, and where funding should be focused so that it has the biggest impact for the greatest number of people.”

Currently the borough’s leisure centres are operated on behalf of the council by Everybody Health and Leisure.

At the committee’s meeting on November 9, a report will be presented which provides an update on the council’s strategic review of these leisure centres.

In this report, all 15 of the sites are given a score based on usage and health data.

The centres are then put into one of two categories, with all those receiving a score of 20 or lower going into group two, which would mean the removal of financial support from the council.

According to the report, just 2.8 per cent of all visitors to the council's leisure centres attend Middlewich Leisure Centre, which accounts for just 0.8 per cent of memberships in the borough.

It reads: “Middlewich Leisure Centre (14) has the second smallest number of memberships across all categories with a large element of the registered members choosing to utilise other adjacent sites, primarily at Sandbach.

"Middlewich Ward sees only four per cent participation from its population in leisure services.

"There are a number of other better equipped public leisure facilities within a short drive distance from the current site

The report continues, outlining the plans for the centre.

Assuming that no alternative funding can be found, the existing joint use site located at Middlewich High School site to be closed as leisure centre from April 1, 2024, ahead of a full handover following any decommissioning activities in mid-2024/25.

Subject to the committee’s approval, a public consultation will launch later this month.