A LANDMARK decision was made last night to privatise the running of leisure centres in Southampton – despite a last-ditch protest from campaigners.

Placard-waving protestors gathered on the steps of the Civic Centre in a bid to convince council leaders to rethink their controversial plans for the city’s leisure sector.

But Southampton City Council’s ruling Cabinet last night gave the go ahead for private operator DC Leisure to manage the majority of the authority’s pools, sports pitches and leisure centres.

The arrangement, believed to be one of the biggest of its kind in the south, includes nine of the city’s facilities, including the flagship The Quays complex.

Civic chiefs say it will save the council around £8m, more than £400,000 a year, and bring extra investment to the authority’s loss-making leisure centres.

But campaigners, who handed over a 3,000-signature petition to council leader Alec Samuels prior to the meeting, said it was a “sad day for Southampton”.

They fear jobs will be lost and prices could rocket.

Campaign organiser Astrid Mangel said: “I’m not surprised by this decision. It is a sad day for Southampton. It could change the face of sport in the city fundamentally.

“I think the only thing we can do now is to pressure the council into negotiating decent contracts which are favourable for residents.”

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.

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Civic chiefs are adamant the arrangement will help safeguard facilities, which also include Bitterne and Chamberlayne leisure centres, the Southampton Alpine Centre and the paddling pool on Southampton Common, for the next 15 years.

Leisure boss Councillor John Hannides told Cabinet colleagues: “We are doing something here that is vital for the future of these facilities.

This is about sensible planning. I have heard no alternative that will put these safeguards in place.”

DC Leisure Ltd already manages leisure facilities for Eastleigh, Winchester, and Portsmouth councils.

It will run the venues in partnership with Active Nation, a charity pressure group.

The handover will begin in September, subject to final contractual negotiations.

Meanwhile a separate agreement was made to use £200,000 to resurface the athletics track at Southampton Sports Centre. A further £50,000 will be spent relaying the artificial pitches.