KNIGHTON Sports Centre could be closed - just over a year after a private operator was appointed to run the county council’s leisure facilities.

Powys council is to consult on the potential closure of the centre on Ludlow Road as part of a cost cutting drive.

The council last year appointed private firm Freedom Leisure to run its sports and leisure centres in a move to reduce costs to the council and, it said, protect the future of the facilities.

It said it must cut spending on leisure services by £200,000 in the coming financial year - in addition to the savings the council has already planned for under the contract with Freedom Leisure.

The council’s deputy leader Cllr Graham Brown said: "As part of the council’s drive to reduce spending by £29.8m over the next three years, leisure services have been asked to reduce spending by £200,000 in the next financial year.

"The figure is in addition to the £18m savings projected during the lifetime of the council’s contract with partners Freedom Leisure, who took over management of the county’s sports and leisure centres in July last year.

"We have been working with the company to identify areas that could generate the necessary savings within relevant time. We have looked at a number of options across the whole service and are concentrating our efforts on areas that have the least public impact, although it is inevitable that there will be change for service users.

"The closure of Knighton Leisure Centre is regrettable but there is alternative provision within a reasonable travelling distance and the centre is the least used in the county so impact to users is less than it would be in other areas. However, if alternative options for the building come forward these will be considered."

The council has also it will operate its Staylittle Outdoor Centre, in Llanbyrnmair, on a commercial basis and will soon seek potential operators.

It is also transferring a Caereinion Leisure Centre to the local high schools.

The proposals will be subject to consultation with results being reported back to the cabinet later in the year.