A LEISURE centre listed for closure could win a reprieve for at least 12 months.

Powys council announced in September it intended closing Knighton Leisure Centre. The proposal came just over a year after it appointed private firm Freedom Leisure to run its leisure centres.

But the council’s cabinet will now be asked to approve a revised budget plan which will fund the Knighton centre, and Caereinion Leisure Centre in Montgomeryshire, for a further 12 months.

However the revised budget plans will be depend on full council agreement as part of next year’s budget process.

Plans to close the Knighton centre, which also houses a swimming pool, provoked a public backlash with demonstrations held and nearly 500 people attending a public meeting in the town.

The council said "strong public support to retain services in Knighton" were clear during the consultation period it held on its proposal.

The proposals were being investigated as part of plans to reduce leisure service spending by £200,000 in the coming financial year.

Council deputy leader Graham Brown said the officials were able to look again at spending plans once it became clear the council’s funding from the Welsh Government wouldn’t be cut as much as was originally feared.

The councillor said: "The cabinet has been working on figures since the Welsh Government budget announcement in November, and has been able to identify savings for the next financial year which will allow us to fund Knighton Leisure Centre for a further 12 months.

"During this time officers will work with the community and Freedom Leisure to identify a sustainable way forward.

"It’s important we use the coming year to fully investigate alternative options for the cabinet to consider, but this will only go ahead if it is supported by council."

The council had proposed transferring Caereinion Leisure Centre to the local high school and those discussions are continuing.

The cabinet will consider the recommendations on Tuesday December 20.