Over 800 Rutlanders and concerned individuals have signed a petition calling for a vote of no confidence following a decision, made by Rutland County Council (RCC), to cease supporting Catmose Sports Centre.

The Oakham gym and leisure facility looked set to close last year, but was saved for another year by the then-Conservative-led Council.

However, on 18 April 2024, the decision was made to close the centre to the public as keeping the centre open at nil cost to the council was not possible. Read a statement from RCC here.

Subsequently, a local petition has been signed by 873 individuals (number correct at the time of writing). The aim for the petition is 1,000 signatures.

The petition claims: "In 2023 the Conservative led Rutland County Council tried to close Catmose Sports Centre. The center is a community hub and asset protecting and promoting the mental and physical health of young and old. A successful grassroots campaign by members saved the centre for up to two years. 

"In May 2023 the council changed hands from Conservative to Liberal Democrat control. The Liberal Democrats had campaigned to save Catmose Sports Centre and their success at the local election was in part a product of the events surrounding Catmose and their promises to save the centre. The new Liberal Democrat led Rutland County Council carried out a fresh procurement exercise to find an operator to run Catmose Sports Centre. They could not find a "no cost" option and in April 2024 the full council was therefore put in the impossible position of voting to divert funding from flooding or funding leisure. No other options were allowed by council. Ultimately this lack of a reasonable choice ensured the closure of Catmose Sports Centre.This has stripped the community of an amazing public asset.

"This is a story of broken promises and lies, of pitching flooding against health, of short sighted budget savings over the well being of citizens, and of cynical politics rather than attempting to work with communities to find solutions. It created an unacceptable situation where staff from the centre found out at a public meeting that they would lose their jobs. This shows a complete lack of care for the people most affected by the decision."

The petition calls for a vote of no confident in Rutland County Council's Leader, Cllr Gale Waller and Cllr Dianne Ellison.

The petition concludes: "We the undersigned, wish to publicly record our dismay at the decision to close Catmose Sports Centre and the process through which that decision was reached. As a consequence we hereby state our lack of confidence in the current leader and her cabinet of Rutland County Council. We petition the council to declare a vote of no confidence in Councillor Gale Waller and Councillor Dianne Ellison."

Rutland County Council responded to this public stand, saying: "Public petitions are considered in line with guidance set out in the Council's Constitution, once they have been submitted."