LICHFIELD residents will have the chance to give their views on the future of Lichfield’s Friary Grange Leisure Centre at a meeting of the district council’s cabinet on Monday October 7.
An announcement that the facility would be closing next year has sparked a major backlash and an 8,000-plus petition calling for it to be saved.
Many thousands of people have learnt to swim there since it opened in the early 1970s and it it has been a centre for other sporting activities including squash, badminton, basketball and gymnastics.
The meeting at 6pm, will be held in Lichfield Garrick’s main auditorium to allow as many people as possible to attend.
It will be chaired by Cllr Doug Pullen, Leader of Lichfield District Council, and the first part of the meeting will be set aside for members of the public to have their say.
Councillor Pullen said: “We know lots of people want to have their say on the future of Friary Grange Leisure Centre, so to facilitate this we are introducing a public speaking session prior to the Cabinet debate.
“We are looking forward to hearing from a wide range of users and groups during the public session, so that the debate held by Cabinet in the second half of the meeting is fully informed by local views.
“To help the public speaking part of the meeting run smoothly, and to allow as many people and groups as possible to have their say, we are asking people to register their interest to speak by Sunday 29 September. We are also asking groups who wish to speak to nominate representatives who can best reflect their group’s views. I’d encourage anyone who wishes to speak to register as soon as possible, so we can make sure the meeting is as reflective of local people’s views as it can be.”
To register your interest to speak email mark.hooper@lichfielddc.gov.uk no later than Sunday 29 September 2019. People who have registered will be contacted by the council’s democratic team from Monday 30 September 2019 onwards with further details about speaking at the meeting.
