Longridge Conservative Councillors and  Longridge Social Enterprise Company are working together to put a plan to RVBC for a community led take over of the Longridge  gym at the Civic Hall.

Rupert Swarbrick LSEC  Chairman and Dilworth Borough Councillor commented

 '' We have been in discussion with RVBC officials  for a number of months over taking over the Longridge gym . We believe that there is scope to run it more efficiently and at less cost than the Borough Council. It has been known for a number of months that the Council were looking for cost savings due to reductions in government grant this year and it is on that background that discussions have taken place . Our plan will not have to carry large administrative costs that the gym is encumbered which means we should be able to put together a more economiiclly  sustainable plan. 

“'Members of the LSEC working group ,Rose Adamson and Chris Parkinson together with a number of new volunteers are drawing up a business plan to put to the Council . In the last few days the Leader of the council and the Chairman of the Community Committee have been briefed on our intentions to come up with an proposal . We anticipate the matter will be discussed on Friday at the Conservative Councillors group meeting which will be attended by NIgel Evans MP who will also be briefed on the matter. As soon as the business plan is drawn up  serious negotiations about the future of the gym will take place .

Ken Hind Longridge Conservative Chairman and councillor added '' All the  Longridge Conservative  councillors , Stuart Carefoot , Jim White, and  David Smith  have discussed this matter and we see this as the way forward. It will be greatly helped by users coming forward to assist as we may need volunteers to assist  in the running of the gym and forming a 'users committee' would be a helpful step forward.

''For those who are thinking of going elsewhere for their fitness training, do not do so as we need all the usage and support  we can get. As a community we must recognise that as far as the gym is concerned we must use it or lose it . The council have been disappointed by the overall use of the gym but with greater promotions in the local community it is felt that we can increase the use of the facilities.

''Having built an extension to the Civic Hall to house  the gym, it seems an awful waste of public resources to close it down ''.