PEOPLE have until the end of September to have a say in a vital consultation about the future of sports facilities in Ludlow and south Shropshire.

A report by Shropshire Council indicates that the sports centre in Ludlow is safe but a cloud hangs over SpArC in Bishop's Castle.

Sports organisations, clubs and members of the public are invited to give their views on the future of sports facilities in Shropshire as part of work to produce a sports facilities strategy for the county.

The aim of the strategy according to Shropshire Council is to provide sufficient high-quality, fit for purpose and accessible facilities for local residents, to enable the public to continue to benefit from sport, leisure, and health and fitness activities.

Shropshire’s Sports Facilities Strategy 2016 to 2037 will identify the need for sports facilities across the county, as well as proposals for rationalising and redesigning facilities to meet local needs. The strategy includes sports halls, swimming pools and fitness suites, and suggests several recommendations.

These include supporting three main leisure hubs in Shropshire, one of which would be in Ludlow and the others in Shrewsbury and Oswestry.

This would put the SpArC facility at Bishop's Castle under threat although Shropshire Council says that it would explore other ways of funding this.

The strategy also proposes that the council withdraws from all remaining joint-use funding arrangements as soon as is practicable, but works with local partners to secure future community access.

Over the past months, the council has been in talks with town councils, parish councils and local communities to look at how they could take over the management of community-based services such as leisure centres, libraries and museums.

The public are encouraged to can have their say on the strategy and send their comments to facilitiesstrategy@shropshire.gov.uk by no later than Friday, September 30.