MEMBERS of the community interest company that wanted to take over the running of Ships and Castles say they are "completely gutted" by the decision to close it.

At an extraordinary meeting of Cornwall Council's cabinet yesterday (March 30) members voted to endorse their decision to close the centre on Falmouth's Pendennis Headland.

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Today Gemma Adams issued a statement on behalf of Pendennis Leisure, the company which unsuccessfully bid to take over the running of the centre, saying it was "gutted and disappointed"

"Obviously after yesterday‘s outcome, along with the rest of the community, we were once again gutted and disappointed that the people of Falmouth, Penryn and surrounding areas are being left without a swimming pool/public leisure facility when the centre closes its doors today," said the statement.

"We still feel the closure of the centre is extremely short-sighted and will severely impact many people, both now and in the future.

"We are thankful of the support we have received from so many councillors from all parties, who have shown so much interest in protecting Ships and Castles, but fundamentally the process chosen by Cornwall Council was not solution focused and did not allow for any meaningful exploration of ways of making the centre viable.

"Now we must put that all behind us and create the right process to work with partners such as Falmouth and Penryn town councils and surrounding parishes to get the centre open again as quickly as possible.

"We will be calling on relevant stakeholders, organisations and members of our community to attend a community meeting at the end of April to discuss a way forwards.

"Like many others, I’ve been up to the centre this morning and had my last swim at Ships and Castles under GLL operation, but I really hope it won’t be too long before the doors can reopen again."

Cllr David Saunby said it had been a fantastic effort by Councillors Jayne Kirkham and Laurie Magowan to get the closure decision called in but he was now concerned about the site being sold off.

"As expected, cabinet has now looked at the information and decided that they don't have the imagination or the courage to think beyond closure. And they don't think Falmouth is worth a relatively small amount of their budget.

"They want to sell off the site and car park at the very least. Their statement last year said this would fund other priorities - Falmouth not being one, of course.

"And they are offering Falmouth Town Council to take it on - as if with our budget, we could afford even the two or three year's transition funding to move it into viability. The taxpayers of Falmouth already took on one of GLL's failures, the Princess Pavilion. It would not be fair to ask for another increase in the precept. It could be anything between 30 and 50% more - untenable. "

He said that there was "a lot of anger and sadness" over the decision and Cllr Richard Pears claim to be: "Working with Falmouth area members to secure a viable and positive future for Ships and Castles" was a bit of stretch.

"One meeting, no money on the table, no answers on where children will learn to swim, no account of the health and well being of those who can't afford to drive or bus to other towns. Hardly any 'work' to be boasting about."

Ships and Castles will be closing its doors today as a leisure centre run by GLL. A small gathering is taking place at the centre at 3pm to say farewell.