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Rescue gathers pace

From the The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald, first published Thursday 26th Jul 2007.

The dream of reopening White Horse Leisure Centre in Calne seems set to become more of a reality as pledges and grants top the £200,000 mark.

Calne Leisure Action Group is inviting residents to a public meeting at 7pm tonight at Calne Town Hall to hear more about the bid.

The group has already raised in excess of £220,000 towards the cost of re-launching the leisure centre on October 1.

A trust set up with the help of two wealthy men from the Calne area 34 years ago has donated £50,000 to the cause.

The Underwood Trust was created on July 1, 1973 and supports UK registered charities and other official charitable organisations, which benefit society in Scotland and Wiltshire.

The benefactors, who have lived in a village on the outskirts of Calne for 30 years wish to remain anonymous.

North Wiltshire District Council's Area Five Committee awarded the latest grant of £75,000 last Thursday.

The committee, which is responsible for the whole of Calne and its surrounding villages, took only 15 minutes to unanimously reach its decision.

The money will be used to buy new gym equipment for the centre if CLAGs rescue bid is given the go ahead next week.

Committee chairman, town and district councillor Tony Trotman said: "It was a great pleasure to award CLAG this money for something that will be of great benefit to young and old residents in Calne alike.

"The need for a leisure centre in Calne is incredibly strong and we are looking forward to the day when we hear it is to be reopened."

CLAG has also been waiting on a decision from the Industrial Providence Society as to whether the not-for-profit organisation will take on the long-term running of the centre.

If the IPS gives CLAG the green light, the group will collect the keys on August 1 and begin work to renovate the 30-year-old building.

Group spokesman, former town councillor Peter Dolman said: "The speed at which this is all going is phenomenal.

"Everything is looking good and we obviously remain positive about the plans.

"There are 5,600 homes in Calne. If they gave £10 each we would have £56,000 towards the project."

CLAG has now opened up its offer of selling shares to people in north Wiltshire.

Before, only people in Calne and the surrounding villages could buy the £10 shares.

CLAG can be contacted by emailing calneleisurecentreactiongroup@hotmail.co.uk.

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