MORE than three thousand people have already voiced their opposition through petitions and demonstrations.
Today, campaigners, unions and opposition councillors, will stage a final protest to urge council leaders in Southampton to rethink plans to privatise the running of council leisure facilities.
The council’s Cabinet will later decide whether to appoint a private operator to manage the majority of the council’s leisure centres, pools and sports pitches, including the flagship Quays complex, for the next 15 years.
Oaklands Pool and St Mary’s leisure centre have been axed from the deal, although could be sold off separately.
Another firm will be selected to run the municipal golf course for 12 years. Around 500 jobs could be affected.
Leisure boss councillor John Hannides said the deal, the largest of its kind in the south, would save the council £8m and bring vital extra investment and increased usage of the council’s loss-making leisure facilities.
However council officers admit the preferred bidder has failed to show “substantial evidence”, through its proposals or existing contracts, how it will boost the quality of provision or “customer satisfaction”.
Campaigner Astrid Mangel, 60, a retired scientist, said: “The council has been working on this for two years but everybody I talk to is unaware of it. They should have been more upfront about it.
“If these plans are allowed to go ahead prices will go up, concessions will cease, underprivileged people will be excluded, and jobs will be lost.”
If given the go ahead the contracts are scheduled to be signed by the end of April for a handover in September.
■ Council chiefs will separately agree to use £200,000 from developer contributions to resurface the athletics track at the Sport Centre. A further £50,000 will be spent relaying the Astroturf pitches.
What will be privatised?
■ Municipal Golf Course
■ The Quays Swimming and Diving Complex
■ Bitterne Leisure Centre
■ Chamberlayne Leisure Centre
■ Woodmill Activities Centre
■ Southampton Water Activities Centre
■ The Outdoor Sports Centre and outlying pitches
■ Southampton Alpine Centre
■ The paddling pool on Southampton Common as well as sports pitches across city parks and open spaces.
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