A PETITION to protect Pendennis Headland from developers for future generations has already attracted nearly 1,500 signatures.

Falmouth Area Community Voice started the petition to Cornwall Council last week on Change.org.

Ships and Castles is under threat of closure which, they say, leaves Pendennis headland vulnerable to private property development and Falmouth, Penryn and surrounding areas at risk of losing its only public pool.

They want as many people as possible to sign it before county council makes its final decision on December 15.

The petition demands that Cornwall Council:

1) Prevent the Pendennis headland from sell-off to private ownership and for any residential, tourism or holiday property

2) Protect and support the improvement of our existing swimming, sports and leisure facilities.

3) Raise our area to Tier 1 status for sports and leisure provision.

The petition can be signed here

Five leisure facilities are currently at risk of closure – leisure centres in Falmouth, Launceston, Saltash and Wadebridge and the hydrotherapy pool in St Austell – after operator GLL said it could no longer afford to run them. If the closures go ahead they could start as early as next year.

GLL has a contract to provide leisure facilities in Cornwall but has been hit hard by the covid lockdown and was asked by Cornwall Council to identify services which were not viable.

The council has been consulting the public about its leisure strategy which is based on residents being able to drive 30 minutes to access leisure services such as swimming pools.

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With the recent announcement that the Ships and Castles leisure centre in Falmouth could soon be closed unless action is taken, the Falmouth Packet has announced its support for the need for a pool in Falmouth.

Being a town located on the coast, swimming lessons are an essential part of growing up in Falmouth, and the closure of the Ships and Castles does nothing to assist young people in acquiring this vital skill.

Having to travel 30 minutes in order to have swimming lessons is not a feasible solution for many Falmouth residents and schools should not be expected to sacrifice classroom time in order to ensure their pupils are able to acquire the skills needed to be equipped for living in a town surrounded by the sea.

The Packet wants to see a pool in Falmouth, whether that means the saving of the Ships and Castles leisure centre or a purpose built facility elsewhere in the town and is urging its readers to support us in this campaign.