We have until the 9th of November to force a full council debate and hopefully retain the centre!
Hi all,
The Link below is for the council petition site that will ask you to create a login and then fill in your address and email address. Please can you circulate this with all the people you know. Some of us will also be gathering signatures around the local area to add to this amount. We really do need your help, as a debate of this matter could convince councillors to think twice about taking resources away from their most deprived constituants with the May elections not far away!!
We only have until 12 noon on the 9th November to try and get 1500 signatures, which will then give the council time to verify the signatures before the council meeting on the 19th November. It has taken over a month to get 2200!!
The council have sent the following information.
This is a petition to be formally submitted to the Leicester City Council. According to the Petitions Scheme, each person supporting the petition must provide a qualifying address to prove they live, work or study in Leicester. When you sign this petition, please clearly provide:
1. Your full address, or;
2. Your full postcode
If our petition contains 1,500 or more valid signatures, it could trigger a debate at a Full Council meeting.
Again if you havent yet filled out the online consultation document please use the link below and maybe some of the comments below may be useful for you to add?
Suggestions of things that you may wish to put in the consultation are shown below. Please modify these points that may be relevant to include your own story—e.g., how long you have used the centre, how you get there (walking vs. driving), or how it impacts your family. If you have done the questionairre and then decide some of the points below are relevant go online again and make your point.
1. The council argues that users can simply displace to Braunstone or Leicester Leys. These points highlight why that is unrealistic for many local residents.
2. Financial Impact of Travel: "Expecting residents to travel to Braunstone or Leicester Leys ignores the financial reality of the New Parks community. Adding bus fares or driving costs to an active lifestyle acts as a direct penalty on lower-income families and completely contradicts the council's anti-poverty strategies."
3. Time and Logistics for Families: "Shifting swimming lessons and activities to alternative centres adds significant travel time to already busy schedules. For parents managing multiple children or those relying on public transport, a quick trip to the local pool becomes a multi-hour ordeal, which will inevitably force families to drop out of sport entirely."
4. Reduced Independence for Youth and Seniors: "New Parks Leisure Centre allows local children, teenagers, and the elderly to walk to a safe space independently. Forcing them to travel out of the area cuts off their access, reduces their physical autonomy, and isolates vulnerable groups."
5. The council points out low visitor numbers. These points argue that usage is a reflection of underinvestment, not lack of local interest.
Underinvestment Cycle: "Low usage is a direct result of historical underinvestment, not a lack of interest from the community. If you allow a facility to become dated and suffer from maintenance issues, attendance will decline. Investing in modernization, as the council has successfully done elsewhere, is what drives up visitor numbers."
6. Modernisation Opportunities: "Instead of spending capital to close the centre and build houses, the council should invest in green technologies like solar panels to slash long-term running costs. A refreshed gym, better community meeting spaces, or an updated reception area would instantly attract new memberships and reverse the financial deficit."
7. The Loss of Unique Facilities: "New Parks houses the city council's only competition-standard squash courts. Closing this facility doesn't just impact casual users; it permanently dismantles a vital sports pathway and niche athletic hub that cannot be adequately replicated at alternative locations."
8. Long-Term Healthcare Costs: "Closing a leisure centre in an area that directly benefits from accessible health and fitness initiatives is short-sighted. The long-term cost to the NHS and local social care services from rising obesity, poor mental health, and physical inactivity will vastly outweigh the immediate savings from closing this hub."
9. Community Lifeline: "This centre has been a cornerstone of life in New Parks for over half a century. It provides a safe, constructive environment for young people to stay active and out of trouble. Removing it takes away one of the few positive, healthy spaces left in the immediate neighbourhood."