Rumours that Fleetwood Leisure Centre will not re-open after lockdown restrictions are lifted has led to widespread alarm across the town.

Within 24 hours of me launching my online campaign to keep the leisure centre open, 1500 people used my website to contact Wyre Council, pleading with them to put Fleetwood first.

It is worrying and completely unacceptable that Wyre Council has announced it will re-open Garstang and Thornton when lockdown restrictions allow, but have given no commitment to re-opening Fleetwood swimming baths.

I am particularly mindful that the town  of Fleetwood has the greatest health needs in the whole borough and the highest levels of poverty and deprivation. Local health organisations have done an incredible job in trying to improve the health outcomes of the residents – and the leisure centre is pivotal in their ambition to reduce life limiting conditions.

In addition, thousands of local schoolchildren have learnt to swim at the town’s leisure centre and I worry about the prospects of future generations learning these lifesaving skills if the town no longer has its own facilities.

It is essential to the health of the people and the economic prospects of the town that this leisure centre reopens as soon as lockdown restrictions allow and I will do everything I can to make sure this happens.

If you wish to add your voice to the thousands of others concerned by these developments then please go to https://catsmith.eaction.online/leisurecentre