Cullompton leisure centre closed due to safety concerns after arrival of travellers
The local council say threats and past damage mean they have decided to shut the facility
Last updated 10th Jul 2025
A leisure centre in Cullompton has been closed since Friday 4 July following the arrival of a group of travellers on a nearby field, Mid Devon District Council has confirmed.
Although the travellers are not on council-owned land, the authority said it had made the decision to shut the centre due to safety concerns, citing past incidents of damage to the facilities and threats made to staff.
In a statement, Councillor Josh Wright, Cabinet Member for Service Delivery and Continuous Improvement, said:
“While the travellers are not on our land, the Council took the decision to close because our centre has easy access to showering and toilet facilities, which in the past have been damaged and misused under similar circumstances.
Our staff have also received verbal abuse and direct threats to damage Council property have also been made. The police have been made aware of these threats and while this behaviour is ongoing we do not deem it safe to open.”
Cllr Wright said the closure had not been taken lightly and acknowledged the impact on both customers and council finances.
“The Council always strives to offer a high class leisure service to our customers and any closure also has a financial cost to us. However, we cannot open when threats have been made, and we have a duty of care to provide safe and welcoming facilities for our users, which includes children and nearby schools. I am saddened we remain closed but in the circumstances it is the right decision.”
“Like our loyal customers, I continue to be frustrated by the closure of the leisure centre. While the Council is encouraging our customers to use neighbouring facilities in Tiverton or Crediton, which remain fully open, I appreciate this is not an option for everyone and the Council is looking at ways we can say thank you to our customers for their patience during this current closure."
The council says it is working with Devon County Council, which owns the land, to begin legal proceedings aimed at removing the group so that the leisure centre can reopen.