CAMPAIGNERS hoping to save a Cleckheaton sports centre from closure have questioned how a planned new leisure centre in neighbouring Bradford can be offered as an alternative when there will be a gap of at least two years between one closing and the other opening.

Kirklees Council took the decision not to keep Whitcliffe Mount Sports Centre when a replacement for the adjoining secondary school is built as part of the Government's priority schools building programme.

And while the Cleckheaton sports centre is due to close towards the end of the next month and then be demolished, there will be a gap of a year before new sports facilities at the replacement Whitcliffe Mount School are available to the community.

In the meantime, Kirklees Council has extended the existing facilities at the Spenborough Pool and Fitness Complex in Liversedge, and has highlighted alternative provision for people to use.

This includes a Bradford Council plan to build a £12.5 million pool and leisure facility at Sedbergh playing fields in Odsal, which is not expected to open until the end of 2018.

Cleckheaton Liberal Democrat councillor Kath Pinnock began asking questions about the Sedbergh plans and fears it may be even longer, leaving those who use Whitcliffe's sports halls with nowhere to go for some time.

Graham Morley, the secretary of the Save Whitcliffe Sports Centre group, said: “It is absolutely disgraceful that Kirklees Council can make such a false offer to local people.

"It is clear that the thousands of local people who use Whitcliffe Mount Sports Centre will have nowhere to go if demolition goes ahead in May.”

Cllr Pinnock said: “Residents in Cleckheaton and the whole of the Spen Valley will be living in the only area of Kirklees that is not served by a community sports centre.

"There is a fabulous new facility in Huddersfield at a cost of more than £30 million yet the Council consistently refuses to do anything for people here. It is completely unacceptable to me and thousands of residents that we are treated in this shameful manner.”

Bradford Council confirmed that the Sedbergh facilities would include a 25 metre pool, an eight court sports hall, two aerobic studios, a fitness centre and improvements to the outdoor pitches.

Phil Barker, the authority's assistant director for sport and leisure, said: "We are in the early stages of working with our design team in developing plans for the Sedbergh facility and hope to start on site by mid 2017. This is dependent on the timescale of the planning process and other design considerations.

"We are anticipating that the construction period will take between 15 to 18 months, and are seeking to open the facility towards the end of 2018."

A spokesman for Kirklees Council reiterated the timescale for the alternative facilities which would be available to those that currently use Whitcliffe Mount Sports Centre.

He said: “Bradford Council has confirmed with us that they are in the early design stage and expect the new sports and fitness facilities at Sedbergh Playing Fields to be open by the end of 2018. We are also developing a new swimming pool and fitness facilities to replace Spenborough Pool. Whitcliffe Mount School will be rebuilt by autumn 2017, and the community will be able to access the new sports hall at the school.”