Residents and campaigners in Dewsbury are stepping up pressure on Kirklees Council to reverse the controversial decision to permanently close Dewsbury Sports Centre, warning that the shutdown continues to harm children, families, and the town’s economy.
A packed public meeting was held at Thornhill Lees Community Centre, where members of the grassroots Reopen Dewsbury Sports Centre Committee, local MP Iqbal Mohamed, and dozens of residents gathered to demand urgent action. The campaign, which began after the centre was closed in September 2023 due to the presence of RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete), has gained momentum in recent months, fuelled by growing frustration over a lack of transparency and investment.
Despite early assurances that the closure was a temporary safety measure, Kirklees Council announced the centre’s permanent shutdown in November 2024. The decision left many in the community feeling “abandoned,” according to organisers.
A structural report, obtained by campaigners through a Freedom of Information request, is said to contradict the council’s justification for closing the building entirely. Campaigners argue that this raises serious questions about whether every possible option for phased reopening was properly explored.
More than 5,000 people have signed a petition calling for the facility to be reopened, particularly the gym and dry sports areas, which are believed to be unaffected by the RAAC issue. However, campaigners say the council has failed to engage meaningfully with the community, and repeated requests for dialogue have been ignored.
Surraya Patel, speaking exclusively to Asian Standard, said the campaign remains strong and ongoing. “We’re still exploring routes to hold the council accountable and answer to the public,” she explained. “Post meeting, we are looking at hosting public inquiries and pushing for more transparency from the council.”
When asked about any communication from the council since the meeting, Patel responded plainly, “No.” She described the mood within the community as one of neglect and disheartenment. “They feel unheard,” she said. “Support is growing, but so is frustration, especially with recent news stories about violence, antisocial behaviour, and crimes that have taken place. The impact of the closure is being felt more keenly by the public.”
Asked what message she would send directly to the council leadership, Patel was clear: “Listen to the public. Listen to the community. They need a leisure centre. Please explore every option you must reopen it and work with us.”
The loss of the facility has had far-reaching consequences. Children are now forced to travel up to 40 minutes each way for swimming lessons, impacting school schedules and disadvantaging those without access to transport. Older and low-income residents have lost a vital local resource, while youth services have been hit hard, with many linking the lack of structured activity to a rise in anti-social behaviour.
Local businesses have also reported a drop in footfall since the closure, compounding economic pressures in Dewsbury town centre.
At the centre of campaigners’ concerns is the council’s shifting financial explanation. Early estimates suggested £350,000 would be needed to make the building safe. That figure later ballooned to £10 million, with no clear breakdown provided a move that campaigners argue blocks any chance of external funding.
Tensions have also grown over how decisions have been communicated. Campaigners say some councillors have declined to meet them in person. Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Cllr Bev Addy, sparked criticism after reportedly stating that the sports centre had “no positive impact” on residents’ health, a comment residents have called “deeply out of touch.”
MP Iqbal Mohamed has called for transparency around the closure and funding process. At the recent public meeting, he criticised the council’s failure to provide a clear explanation for how operational funding ran out halfway through a financial year. He also revealed that a proposal for government funding to carry out a new independent structural survey was blocked by the Dewsbury Town Board, as no members supported tabling the motion.
Cllr Cathy Scott, from the Community Alliance, offered a fresh take on the way forward.
“The closure of Dewsbury Sports Centre hasn’t just taken away a pool or a gym, it’s ripped the heart out of our community. Families, young people, and older residents have lost a vital space for health, connection, and wellbeing.
Kirklees Labour need to start thinking outside the box and genuinely listen to local people, not just impose decisions from the top down.
We know we may never get the original centre back in its old form, but that doesn’t mean giving up. It means thinking differently. A smaller, community-owned facility could give us something better: a space that’s affordable, accessible, and shaped by the people of Dewsbury. Let’s start a real conversation about what comes next and how we build it together.”
Campaigners say the sports centre issue is a symptom of a broader problem, chronic underinvestment in Dewsbury and North Kirklees. Millions have been allocated to leisure projects in Huddersfield, while Dewsbury has seen key community assets cut or closed.
“People here feel left behind,” said one attendee at the meeting. “If this happened in Huddersfield, it would have been sorted by now.”
The campaign group says it will continue pushing for answers, and with local elections approaching in 2026, many residents are promising to hold decision-makers accountable at the ballot box.
Until then, the Reopen Dewsbury Sports Centre Committee says it will keep fighting not just for a building, but for fairness, accountability, and the future of their town.
