Powys County Councillor Angela Davies is absolutely right to stress (22 November) the importance of local leisure centres in Powys for promoting health and well-being and our local MP rightly is backing the call to keep them flourishing. 

I am a regular swimmer at of East Radnor Leisure Centre in Presteigne, a well-managed, popular and busy hub of activity with an expanding range of activities.

It is a central and conveniently located focus for the local community’s sport and recreation, and an essential social centre. 

OTHER NEWS:

It provides jobs for a number of young people who live in the town. 

The need to secure its future is widely and deeply felt so it is not surprising that over 3,000 people have signed a petition calling it for to remain open.

Over 300 children at any time are receiving swimming lessons at East Radnor and rising statistics for water related fatalities in Wales (55 in 2023), confirm the importance of this.

Closing local centres and forcing families to travel long distances will create severe and often impossible barriers to young learners especially in the absence of an effective and regular public transport network.

And do we really want to increase the county’s carbon footprint by forcing more car use?

A healthy and happy local population reduces the stress on the NHS. 

It is vital that sports centres remain local and easily accessible for local residents, families and children.

East Radnor and other local leisure centres must be maintained and continue to expand and develop now and in the future.  
Susan Murray
Presteigne