The fight to save Ships and Castles has entered its final stages, with facilities at Falmouth due to close in a matter of weeks unless Cornwall Council agrees to Pendennis Leisure or another provider taking over its operation.

Pendennis Leisure says it submitted a proposal on February 15 to take on the operation of Ships and Castles. It set out how a community based, professional and legal entity would take over the management and operation of Ships & Castles with a managed transition period, providing undisrupted leisure services.

It outlines an approach which will underpin, and provide long-term stability for, the Ships & Castles, leisure services and the headland.

"We called this proposal 'People follow People' (TUS A SYW TUS!) because of the strong feeling in the community that with the right local people in control of Ships & Castles, local people will once again flock to use it," they said.

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An Extraordinary Meeting of Cornwall Council Cabinet has now been called for on Friday, March 4 to make a decision on both Ships and Castles and Wadebridge Sports Centre.

Pendennis Leisure Community Interest Company has been formed by residents of Falmouth, Penryn and surrounding villages to operate and enhance leisure services at Ships and Castles, Falmouth. Pendennis Leisure CIC has been established to galvanise community support for and prepare for community operation of Ships & Castles. Our aims (based on community engagement) are:

• To continue Ships & Castles operations

• To protect the site and therefore the headland

• To develop better sport, leisure and well-being facilities.

Working for the long term they have proposed to take on a 125 year lease to secure the long term future of Ships and Castles and retain the headland for the benefit of the community. They say they will also catalyse the construction of a new leisure centre in Falmouth / Penryn that would incorporate a 25m pool or larger.

"We are committed to ensuring uninterrupted availability of leisure services for the Falmouth and Penryn communities, said the group. "The people and communities who have come together to form PLCIC are motivated by love for Ships & Castles, passion for the role that active leisure can play in the life and wellness of the community, and determination to co-produce excellent leisure services and opportunities.

We are fortunate to count a wide range of experienced and expert professionals from diverse disciplines among our members and supporters, and draw on the experience and expertise of: expert advisors including engineers and leisure management professionals with experience of other contexts; former employees of Tempus Leisure, GLL and Cornwall Council; and citizens and their children who use, or have used, Ships & Castles facilities since it was built.

"We believe that use of the buildings and grounds can be optimised and local knowledge and community goodwill harnessed. Our proposal is to bring the site alive again, making it a hub of community activity for the town, inside and out.

"We have already made connections to over 4000 people who are engaged with the renewal of Ships & Castles and campaigns for a public pool - and as part of community we aim to develop and deploy volunteers alongside a paid workforce to support increased usage of the facilities and unique location.

"Over time we will introduce new facilities to in the grounds and work in partnership with other community organisations and operators to extend and improve services and activities as determined by our members and the wider community, and in response to identified market opportunity.

"Ultimately our approach is one of service enhancement and partnership with local people to suggest or drive service improvements. We will bring fresh attention to all aspects of the Ships & Castles value proposition – from marketing and website, through grounds maintenance and cleanliness, to reception, facilities management and all other customer touchpoints.

"We have of course had to sign non disclosure agreements therefore cannot go into the finer details of finances and business plans at this point - however we look forward to sharing further information in due course."