Middlewich Town Council and residents have agreed an 'outline plan' to provide access to exercise and sporting activities when the leisure centre closes, a councillor said.

Middlewich Leisure Centre is due to close at the end of this month, following a controversial decision taken by Cheshire East officers under delegated authority.

That decision sparked fury among some Cheshire East councillors who believe the officers didn't have the authority to close it.

Sutton councillor Chris O'Leary (Con) tried to raise the matter at the most recent meeting of the committee, and later posted on Facebook: "The closure of a leisure centre is, by any understanding, a political decision and is one that should be taken by councillors."

But Cllr Carol Bulman (Lab), who represents Middlewich on Cheshire East Council, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service today (Tuesday) that the town's Cheshire East councillors had worked with the town council to come up with an alternative.

"Middlewich ward and town councillors together have come up with an offer that satisfies the previous leisure centre users," Cllr Bulman said.

"The leisure centre at the school was losing money, i.e. not commercially viable – it had 50 members only.

"The school has set up its own booking system for community users of the 3G pitch and sports hall."

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When asked if she would be 'calling-in' the decision made by the council's officers, Cllr Bulman said: "There would be little chance of the call-in succeeding and little to be gained from it.

"Cllr O'Leary's sudden interest in Middlewich is heartwarming but we believe it is more of a political stunt.

"The residents and councillors who live here will make the decisions that matter for our town.

"People will still have exercise classes they can walk to rather than having to drive elsewhere for costly facilities.

"The town council and residents have agreed an outline plan and details will follow soon."

Cllr O'Leary is still highly critical of the decision-making process and believes officers did not have the authority to make the decision to close the centre.

He said: "As a councillor I have two responsibilities – one is to my ward and one to Cheshire East as a whole, and poor governance doesn't just affect my ward it affects everybody."