Sudden surprise closure of leisure centres branded ‘unacceptable’ by locals

LOCALS near two leisure centres that have suddenly closed are branding the news "unacceptable".

GL1 Leisure Centre and Oxstalls Sports Park in Gloucester have closed with immediate effect.

It comes as Aspire Sports and Cultural Trust, which had been running the city's leisure services for the last 15 years, chose to wind down.

Both locations are already shut and they might not reopen until September next year.

A statement on GL1's website said: “As many people will be aware, as a charity we have faced some challenging conditions over the last few years and have done everything we can to meet those challenges.

"Having reached the end of our 15-year contract we hoped to continue for another year to ease the Council’s search for another operator.

"However, as a registered charity, trustees have a legal duty to only trade if council funding is assured and risk is controlled. Trustees felt unable to trade legally as a ‘going concern’.

"We have now taken the incredibly difficult decision to wind up the charity and to go into liquidation as we believe we are no longer able to operate legally in the way that we would wish.

"We’d like to thank our staff who have consistently gone above and beyond, as well as our loyal customers who have supported us throughout the last 15 years."

The Leadership of Aspire Sports and Cultural Trust will now work with partners to close down the business with immediate effect.”

Councillors have also called for an emergency meeting following the sudden closure and a petition has been created to save the GL1 Centre.

Locals have shared their thoughts on social media, with many branding the news disappointing.

One said it was "unacceptable" that the centres have closed with no warning.

A second person added: "Another Oasis happing as we speak. The council have no interest in this like everything else."

Someone else said: "We had just the best time didn’t we.

"So many great memories and friends for life. So sad to see it closing."

Retailers have been feeling the pinch since the pandemic while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to soaring inflation.

High energy costs and a shift to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.

Some stores will be replaced with brand new shops while others will disappear from the high street forever.

The cost of living crisis, soaring inflation and high energy costs are taking their toll on retailers.

Shoppers have been cutting back spending, while the cost of actually running a store has also increased, meaning some outlets have struggled to keep going.

Rock bar Jimmy's on Bold Street in Liverpool closed down for good last weekend (September 30).

The bar was founded by bandmates from One Night Only, George and Jimmy Craig.

Garden store Cants of Colchester, located on the old A134 between Colchester and Great Horkesley, will close at the end of this month.

In an email sent to customers, the Nayland Road business said: "It is with regret to inform you that we will be closing our doors for the final time at the end of September."

Boots is set to close several more stores this month as part of its plan to shut 300 shops over the next year.

Farmfoods is closing its supermarket in Tranent, East Lothian for good at the end of this month.

Shoppers in the local area were left gutted when it revealed the news, sharing fears it would leave the area "a ghost town".

One regular shopper said: "Why shut Farmfoods? The elderly people of Tranent use this daily. Not good for Tranent."

Bargain supermarket Iceland is set to close two more branches by the end of October.

It has already shuttered 17 stores this year including in Crewe and Birkenhead.

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