Closure threatened Howden Park Centre is thrown a lifeline - but only until next year

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Closure-threatened Howden Park centre has been thrown a lifeline - but only until next year.West Lothian Council Executive today agreed to support the theatre with temporary funding until the end of March 2024.A report presented to the Council Executive recently confirmed that all four facilities currently make a significant monthly financial loss and, if the facilities do not close, West Lothian Leisure faces the risk of insolvency, which would risk the closure of all their Xcite facilities.Howden Park and three under threat pools also require significant and immediate sums of capital funding to bring them up to standard.

The council’s core capital grant has been reduced significantly by the Scottish Government.An update was presented to the Council Executive which confirmed that work is underway to explore alternative commercial and community options for running Howden Park Centre, and a number of swimming pools, with other interested parties including key community user groups.The council has also agreed to provide £20,000 each month until the end of March 2024 to ensure Howden Park Centre remains open, and is able to honour existing bookings.

The funding is intended to help ensure a smooth transition to an alternative potential operator.Leader of West Lothian Council Lawrence Fitzpatrick said: “The council today agreed that one off funding of £20,000 per month from the start of September will be available until the end of March 2024 to support the operation of the centre for the remainder of the financial year.“This is due to the unique nature of Howden Park in requiring a future programme of events, which had been arranged in advance of WLL’s announcement on 3 May that they seek to close Howden Park.“This will