Future of Cleobury Mortimer Sports Centre in doubt
Shropshire Council said Teme Leisure gave the local authority six months’ notice
The future of Cleobury Mortimer Sports and Fitness Centre is uncertain after its operator, Teme Leisure, announced plans to step away from running the site later this year.
On Thursday, Shropshire Council said Teme Leisure gave the local authority six months’ notice saying it will no longer manage the centre after December 3rd 2025.
The move follows the removal of a council grant earlier this year.
If no alternative arrangements are found, the centre will close to the public - although it would remain available for educational use.
However, the not-for-profit company that runs leisure centres in Shropshire said the local authority issued news that one of its sites could close, without communicating with them.
Teme Leisure said it had put forward proposals to enable the site to remain open but the council had rejected these suggestions and gone ahead with its press release without any discussion.
In the original press release from Shropshire Council, Councillor James Owen, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for housing and leisure, said the decision was “very disappointing”, adding:
“Despite the community benefits, Teme Leisure wish to stop running the centre. We continue to explore other options, but the real risk now is that the centre will need to close for a short period of time.”
In the longer term, the council says it is reviewing leisure services countywide, including Cleobury Mortimer, as part of a new procurement process.
Teme Leisure, which has run the site since 2008, said the centre has always needed external funding to cover its costs. The group explained that the loss of an annual £23,000 council grant left them facing a shortfall of around £44,000 for 2025/26.
In a statement, Teme Leisure said:
“We apologise to our customers, stakeholders and staff for the way this information reached them.
"We remain committed to seeking a solution, but without funding the site may be forced to close later this year.”
Teme Leisure confirmed its South Shropshire Leisure Centre in Ludlow will not be affected.