A further attempt by Liberal Democrats on Walsall Council to keep Willenhall Leisure Centre open was voted down at last night’s Regeneration Scrutiny Panel, but there does appear to be some light at the end of the tunnel reports Liberal Democrat councillor Ian Shires.

Ian’s claim came after his recommendation to the scrutiny panel to reschedule a number of growth items within the draft budget for 2010/11 in order to keep the leisure centre open. the suggestion was voted down with all five Tories voting against and Labour surprisingly sitting on the fence by abstaining.

Ian had pointed out to the scrutiny panel members that a review of Leisure provision across across the borough was due to go before the council’s Tory controlled cabinet in April this year and it made no sense to close Willenhall Leisure Centre ahead of this review.

“We know that Willenhall’s Leisure Centre operating costs are higher than others in the Borough” said Ian “all I am asking is to allow Scrutiny to look in depth at how it might be possible to dramatically reduce costs in much the same way as was done with Bryntysillio last year.

“By doing this the future of leisure provision in Willenhall would stand on an equal footing” said Ian. “This is the only closure contained within the Tory budget proposals and smacks of discrimination against an area which has more than its fair share of deprivation.”

Although Ian’s proposal was defeated, senior Tories said that it deserved further consideration, they would be looking at ways of perhaps including them in the final budget due to go before the cabinet in February. Could it be that as far as Willenhall’s Leisure Centre is concerned, there is some light at the end of the tunnel?