Just four days to save Ships and Castles. SIGN THE PETITION!

Tempus Leisure staff launched the petition this afternoon pleading locals to help save the centre, which faces a £1.5 million maintenance bill or possible closure.

The letter to staff revealed the three recommended options Cornwall Council's cabinet will debate next Wednesday: Closing the centre, paying a one off compensation claim of around £350,000 to operators Tempus Leisure and £100,000 a year in security and empty rates costs; keeping the centre open, without addressing the high risk of critical systems failure, at a cost of £722,000; or keeping the centre open, addressing the risk of critical systems failure, costing £1.549 million.

Helena Collins, an employee at the centre, said: "We've got a lot of work to save the centre, In that council meeting there's one aspect they will be looking at. They will be looking at the figures and saying 'that's a lot of money' to spend.'

"If we don't get the public behind it and we don't have support, they might turn a blind eye to it.

"At the moment people aren't realising how serious it is."

As an indicator of how important the centre is to people, she said the number of people using the facilities is the "second highest in Cornwall", with 600 people having swimming lessons and 1,000 children using the swimming pool each week.

She said: "A really big site like that makes an impact."

The council currently has £427,000 left in its maintenance budget, available for work at the centre, and there is a further £1.2m from a leisure budget underspend, which could see the full work completed, but that would leave no budget to address the maintenance backlog or any emergency issues that arise in any of the other leisure centres in the county.

A plan of the site drawn up recently highlights the land on which the centre sits, part of a large section of Pendennis headland owned by Cornwall Council, with a note valuing the site at £1.6 to £2.2 million for "an alternative use/ development."

However the council also recognises that the centre has over 194,000 visitors a year, and closure would be detrimental to Falmouth’s local schools, the 600 plus children using the swim school, and other local users, and that nearby centre's would not be able to take up the slack.

Helena said: "There's been a mixture of emotions, people just want the building safe, because we know it's a massive attraction in Falmouth.

"None of us want it to go, it's like a big family here.

"There's optimism from the staff, optimism from the public. there has to be."

Sarah Newton, MP for Falmouth and Truro, said: "I am dismayed to learn that one of the options under consideration by Cornwall Council is to close the Ships & Castle without a plan for a replacement or improved indoor swimming facility. It is a much loved  by locals and tourists alike. Understandably local people have many questions about the future of the site too.

"While understanding that Cornwall Council does need to make savings from it's budget by being more efficient and working in partnership with other organisations to do things differently and better, they should be mindful of their duty to promote the well being of local people and that income from tourism is an important contributor to the Cornish economy. As such Cornwall Council should prioritise the wellbeing of local people and support the tourism industry.

"I have written to the Leader of Cornwall Council asking that the Council develop a proper health and well being strategy for local people that includes access to sporting & fitness related leisure facilities. Also stressing the importance of Ships & Castle to tourism. Working in partnership with our local universities, schools, community sports clubs and national sports bodies such as Sports England why couldn't Cornwall Council develop a proper strategy and plan before taking such drastic action?"

So sign the petition go to: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/123/389/764/keep-ships-and-castles-leisure-centre-open/