A FALMOUTH councillor will be putting his best foot forward next month to raise money to install much needed CCTV and outdoor lighting at a community centre on the former site of Ships and Castles leisure centre.
Laurie Magowan, ward councillor for Arwenack which covers the Pendennis Headland, will be running the Cornwall Hospice Care, Falmouth half marathon on March 17 to raise £1,000 for the newly reopened Pendennis Community Centre.
The centre in the former Ships and Castles leisure centre now runs a wide range of events including health and wellbeing and fitness classes throughout the week, including early morning and evening classes and are fundraising to invest in CCTV cameras and outdoor lighting.
Laurie will join 700 runners to tackle the beautiful, but hilly, 13.1 mile course which starts at Princess Pavilion, passing Pendennis Point, Swanpool and Maenporth beaches and around the hills of Mawnan Smith. He has set up a Crowdfunder page with a target of £1,000 to try and raise the money for the CCTV and the lighting.
Posting on the Crowdfunder page, Cllr Magowan said: “It would be amazing if you could support by contributing whatever you can to help make this vital community asset a success.”
Mr Magowan told the Packet: “I’m delighted to be able to support the staff and volunteers at Pendennis Community Centre raise funds to support the amazing work they do.
“The team have been working so hard over the winter months to establish a wide range of activities, and the CCTV and outdoor lights will help keep the centre safe and secure as we get into spring.”
Pendennis Leisure opened the former Ships and Castles leisure centre as a fitness, well-being space and community café last September.
The leisure centre closed its doors back in March 2022 after leisure company GLL told Cornwall Council it could no longer afford to run it.
A historic devolution deal to transfer the freehold of the former Ships & Castles leisure centre building and the wider Pendennis Headland from Cornwall Council to Falmouth Town Council for £1 was completed in August last year.
The leisure centre was then handed over to community interest company Pendennis Leisure on a 125 year lease with Falmouth Town Council.
If you would like to make a contribution the visit the Crowdfunding site. https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/pendennis-leisure-lights-camera-action
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