Wellingborough leisure centre closing to almost all community sport from next month

A Wellingborough leisure centre will no longer be available for almost all community sport from next month.

More than 40 groups use Weavers Leisure Centre for various sports, including badminton, boxing and gymnastics.

But from August 31, the trust which runs Weavers Academy has said it will no longer be offering recreational sport to the community apart from table tennis groups.

Rob Ridout, associate principal, said: "Following consultation on the future of Weavers Leisure Centre, the Creative Education Trust has decided that it will no longer be able to offer recreational sport to the community at Weavers Academy from 31st August 2020.

"Table tennis groups and competitions will continue to be supported.

"The trust sincerely regrets having to make this decision but have had to place the education needs of the students first.

"They are very aware of the upset this will cause to those groups who have enjoyed the use of these facilities for so long and are keen to support groups to find alternative venues where possible.

"The team at Weavers are currently looking to secure some provision for some groups at their sister school, the Wrenn Academy."

The trust launched a consultation on the future of the leisure centre earlier this year.

Exam success and a good Ofsted rating has led to an increase in students so the school in Brickhill Road has been looking at how to accommodate this.

According to its most recent Ofsted report from May 2017, it said there are 1,140 students on the school roll aged between 11 and 18.

To read more about the trust's reasons for considering the future of the leisure centre, as first reported in the Northants Telegraph last month, click hereAnyone wishing to contact Mr Ridout about the decision can email [email protected]

Wellingborough has two other leisure centres, which are the council-owned Waendel and Redwell leisure centres.

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