THERE are renewed hopes that a community's leisure centre could be saved as a date for plans to be approved by the council are fast-approaching.

Interested party, Active Dorset, say they currently anticipate that both outdoor and indoor facilities will continue to run at Weymouth's Redlands Community Sports Hub as it waits for approval from the council as well as Weymouth College and Active Dorset Trustees.

As previously reported, campaigners have been desperate to save the facilities at the centre after Weymouth College confirmed it will pull out as operator in July this year.

Dorset Echo: Redlands Sports Community Hub. Picture: Peter BarrowRedlands Sports Community Hub. Picture: Peter Barrow

Dorset Council councillor for Radipole Peter Barrow has been at the forefront of the campaign to save the indoor facilities.

Cllr Barrow said: "We have ran the campaign to keep it open and final work is now being done by Active Dorset, Dorset Council and Weymouth College.

"We understand that it's going to stay open and myself and Cllr David Gray are very pleased that they have managed to do something to save the day.

"The campaign proved that thousands of people wanted it stay open and showed that the community thought it was important to have this facility in the town."

On the importance of this leisure centre to the community, he said: "It's important to stay fit and active if you want to live a long and healthy life and we need these facilities for people and clubs to go to."

Cllr Barrow said Active Dorset had lots of ideas to get people using the facilities and believes it will be investing to make it 'fit for purpose'.

He added: "The council have listened to the community and the community need to now do their part to support the leisure centre."

A spokesman for Active Dorset said: "Very briefly, although much work is still ongoing and all plans are subject to Council approval as well as approval by both Weymouth College and Active Dorset Trustees, we currently anticipate that both outdoor and indoor space at Redlands will remain open.

"All the current user clubs have been working with us to achieve as seamless a transition as is possible while also looking to grow their number of players and get used to the new trusted keyholder booking approach.

"In due course more information will be able to be shared including the future plans."

A spokesman for Dorset Council said: "Dorset Council is continuing to have discussions with Active Dorset and Weymouth Town Council.

"A report that will set out the future plans for Redlands will be considered by Place and Resource Overview Committee on the 28 July."