UPROAR has been sparked at the decision to cut spending on leisure services in south Shropshire.

Shropshire Councillor Heather Kidd (Chirbury and Worthen) has slammed a council proposal to cut funding to Teme Leisure.

This will mean a direct cut to SpArC in Bishop's Castle whilst funding levels to other leisure centres in the rest of Shropshire will be maintained for at least another year.

"This is grossly unfair,” said Heather Kidd who is commenting on the situation in Bishop's Castle following the resignation of Charlotte Barnes from Shropshire Council.

"SpArC play a crucially important role is the life of the Bishop's Castle area. We live in a very rural area and this is not only our sports centre but our cinema and theatre and provides exercise on prescription as well. It has the only swimming pool for 20-plus miles in several directions!

“Shropshire Council's Budget Strategy report includes a cut of £77,830 that is identified as 25% cut to Teme Leisure for 2017/18. This will affect SpArC and could close the pool.

“This is grossly unfair when the leader of the council has given town and parish councils a year to work with the council to find a way to fund these services.

What are we to do in south-west Shropshire? Why cut us when the rest of Shropshire has untouched leisure services? Serco run services such as those in Shrewsbury and Oswestry and are left with no cuts at all.

"The whole community is working hard to save SpArC. There are a number of events over the summer which will add to the £30,000 plus already raised. Far from supporting our efforts, the council now drop this bombshell after promising a year’s breathing space.

"My colleagues and I will be asking which other leisure funding has been untouched. Surely if we spread the £77,830 cut over the whole of Shropshire’s leisure then this would be manageable?”