DORSET Council has insisted that the future of Redlands sports centre building has not yet been decided amid calls for it to be saved.

As reported, Weymouth College is to pull out of the lease, and a new provider has not been found to run the building - although community groups have expressed interest in raising funds in order to do so.

Dorset Council, which owns the building, is being urged by Redlands users and the Weymouth community to keep it open long enough for fundraising to take place.

The council has today said it is "keen to allow the local community to develop an alternative proposal" before a final decision is made.

The outdoor facilities, meanwhile are to be run by a new provider, Active Dorset. As it stands the building will close this July - however Dorset Council has suggested it will try and renegotiate with Weymouth College and other stakeholders to secure the building's future.

At a public meeting on Saturday councillors were urged to work together and put politics to one side.

In a statement issued by the council today, councillor Laura Miller, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for Customer and Community Services, said: "While the outdoor facilities are well-used, the buildings themselves are loss-making.

"This is diverting money away from the college’s primary purpose of education. As owner of the site, Dorset Council asked the college to find a new leaseholder that could continue providing services at Redlands.

"The college spoke to 10 different parties to explore the possibility of them taking on the facilities. Only one party, Active Dorset, were interested in taking on Redlands.

"Active Dorset is a not-for-profit Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), focussing on public engagement in physical activity. They have brought forward an excellent scheme which would hugely increase participation and community use of the outdoor facilities, like their Slades Park site in Bournemouth

The proposed scheme suggests closing the existing building. Usage of the sports centre had dropped to 19% even before the pandemic, and the college is spending more than £200k every year to keep the building open. If the centre was closed many activities could be relocated from Redlands, but we accept that some would have no other place to go."

The Echo had previously asked for an update on whether the council will consider keeping it open, and what will happen to community groups and schools that use the site.

Cllr Miller added: "We have been listening closely to the conversation and are fully aware there is much community support for retaining the indoor services at Redlands, as well as some people who feel that no further public money should be spent on a loss-making facility.

"However, Dorset Council is keen to allow the local community to develop an alternative proposal for the site before we reach the point where a final decision will need to be made.

There are many bodies and individuals who have input to this discussion, and it is impossible to develop plans simultaneously with all of them. "Dorset Council intends to start speaking with the college and Dorset Councillors for Weymouth wards to support the development of an alternative plan for the indoor facilities. This group will be able to bring the perspectives of the local community to the development of an alternative proposal.

"It’s important to remember that no decision on the future of Redlands has been made yet. While I strongly support, in principle, Active Dorset’s proposals for the outdoor facilities I also respect their decision not to take on the indoor services.

"If the indoor services at Redlands can be placed in the hands of those who believe they present an opportunity to benefit residents locally, Dorset Council is keen to explore this option before any decision is made.

"We will continue talking to the college and other key stakeholders about the potential for a new partnership to be created to take on the building, while Active Dorset can carry on developing their exciting plans for the popular outdoor facilities that should see huge benefits for the local community.

"Dorset Council and Weymouth College will keep everyone updated as discussions continue. I remain optimistic that we can all work together to find a solution that works for the local community.”