Petition to protect Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre 'passes key milestone'

The petition was launched to protect the future of Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre, which is due to be replaced with a new £33.9 million facility at Clipstone Brook.

It urges Central Beds Council to protect the future of the popular facility for residents in Linslade by maintaining ‘accessible and affordable’ gym and fitness facilities.

The petition was started on January 6 and runs until February 17. By January 19, it had already reached 726 signatures and has now reached nearly 1,000 signatures.

Fiona Barber is urging people to get behind the campaign.

She explained the e-petition had passed a key threshold ‘under Central Bedfordshire Council’s petition scheme’ which means, as it stands, it will formally be referred to the council’s Executive Committee.

However, 1,250 signatures are needed to meet the threshold required for an automatic debate at Full Council.

She said: “With the petition still open, we are now working to build momentum towards the 1,250-signature target for a Full Council debate. Given the speed at which support has grown, this issue clearly carries significant public and political weight.

“We want to encourage further engagement, and ensure public awareness at a point where community voices can still make a meaningful difference.”

The new centre, due to open in the summer, will feature a range of swimming pool options plus a 150 station state-of-the-art fitness suite with a new gym, two squash courts, a spinning bikes studio and two multi-use exercise studios.

The petition states the town needs two leisure centres to serve both Leighton–Linslade communities fairly – and raises concerns that part of the site could become vacant and encourage anti-social behaviour.

The petition states: “A growing town needs more infrastructure, not fewer accessible facilities. Leighton–Linslade needs two leisure centres to serve both communities fairly.

Fiona added: “Central Beds Council has been really vague and not informed us of any potential plans for the future of the building and the car park. I don’t even think the school are aware of any long term plans.

“Ultimately there's a huge membership that are going to be affected – people in Linslade who rely on the gym and fitness facilities at Tiddenfoot for their physical and mental health."

Sign the e-petition here.