MP for The Deepings Sir John Hayes outraged at South Kesteven District Council's plans to close Deepings Leisure Centre

An MP has labelled the planned closure of a leisure centre as unacceptable, as residents will be left with no immediate sports facilities.

On August 6, South Kesteven District Council announced that the Deepings Leisure Centre, which closed just over two weeks ago because of a leaky roof might never reopen.

The cost of fixing 47-year-old Deepings Leisure Centre will run to £1.2m according to a new report but both South Kesteven District Council, which has managed the facility since the 1970s, and Lincolnshire County Council, which owns the building, agree it doesn't make financial sense for it to undergo the repairs.

After being contacted by a number of concerned constituents, Sir John Hayes, Conservative MP for The Deepings, penned a letter to the chief executives of South Kesteven District Council, Karen Bradford, and Lincolnshire County Council, Debbie Barnes.

In the letter, Sir Hayes said: "As you will be aware the Leisure Centre serves the local residents in and around the Deepings and is well used by individuals and sports clubs.

"This closure leaves the community without a swimming pool, teaching pool, indoor sports hall, gym and other club facilities, which is, plainly, unacceptable. Furthermore, this closure leaves the Deepings School without sporting facilities, breaching statutory duties.

"It would appear that the building has been allowed to deteriorate over the past few years, meaning that it now requires substantial investment to bring it up to date."

Sir Hayes has been in discussion with South Kesteven District Council about a replacement leisure centre but acknowledges it 'will not happen overnight and could take many months, or even years to construct a leisure centre', leaving residents without sports facilities.

He said: "Sport and leisure are ever more important to our physical and mental health and to our wellbeing during the pandemic and its' aftermath. Therefore, I am concerned that The Deepings residents should not be disadvantaged by the loss of opportunity to access such activities locally.

"You should be aware I regard the temporary closure as unacceptable and permanent closure, without a replacement, an outrage."

Sir Hayes has called on the two chief executives to explain how the situation has been allowed to develop and how the councils will ensure leisure facilities remain available to his constituents.