THERE could yet be a sports hall on the Bromsgrove Sports and Leisure Centre site after councillors voted to defer bulldozing it at Wednesday’s full council meeting.
Members of the cabinet last week unanimously decided against building a new hall because of high costs.
A report said it would cost at least £3million to build and would only generate £70,000 per year.
But at Wednesday’s meeting Coun Charles Hotham said: “I believe the figures are incorrect. There is an error in the report.
“The sports hall would actually generate £130,000 per annum.”
He called for a deferral until a full breakdown of correct facts and figures were known, adding he did not think all avenues had been explored, including a third party running and maintaining it.
“We need to take more consideration before we just decide to destroy something that means a lot to the people of Bromsgrove.”
Coun Chris Bloore added: “If it’s a money issue then why aren’t we looking to give the sports hall to someone else who can retain the structure and keep it running? We should be looking at every single option.”
After much debate, consideration and a break, Coun Peter Whittaker agreed there was ‘some ambiguity in the report’.
“I want to defer this for a period of one month. During those four weeks I want to see some sign that a third party is interested in taking over the sports hall.”
The majority of councillors voted to defer the agenda and speak on it again at the next full council meeting.
