rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/petition/save-kingsdown-sports-centre?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-petition-area-save-kingsdown-sports-centre' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div> Cotham ward team https://actionnetwork.org/groups/cotham https://can2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/petitions/photos/000/305/551/normal/GuyandMohamed-KSC.png Bristol City Council is currently proposing to stop operating Kingsdown Sports Centre. While the Council will consult the public on this decision, all of the options presented include stopping operating the Sports Centre. This decision was made by Mayor Bristol Marvin Rees and the Labour Party cabinet of Bristol City Council on 19th September. The report is available here. This decision has been made without the local community or elected councillors for the area having any opportunity to make the case for the council to continue operating Kingsdown Sports Centre. This is unacceptable. As with all leisure facilities, the Sports Centre suffered a drop in membership during the Covid-19 pandemic, but membership numbers have been steadily increasing since lockdown restrictions eased. This temporary drop in usage should be not used as an excuse for the council to dispose of a much-loved and well-used community asset. We also note that the council's proposed alternative - the University of Bristol gym - lacks many of the facilities offered by Kingsdown Sports Centre, is usually full, with more costly membership fees, and completely unsuitable for many of the members of Kingsdown Sports Centre. The community around the Kingsdown Sports Centre and elected Councillors for Cotham are objecting to Mayor Marvin Rees' decision to stop operating the Sports Centre, and will campaign against any attempt to dispose of this community asset, and any attempt to sell the site for development. Guy Poultney & Mohamed Makawi Green Party Councillors for Cotham https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/save-kingsdown-sports-centre