Two of Basildon's main sports centres are set to close at weekends to save money, it has been revealed.
The move to shut Basildon sports centre, in Nethermayne, and Bromfords sports centre, in Grange Avenue, Wickford, is hoped to save the council tens of thousands of pounds in staff costs.
Yet the news has left users "devastated".
For the past seven years, line dancing tutor Chris Bayliss, 54, has led a 200-strong class at Bromfords every other Saturday night.
He couldn't believe it when the centre boss told him the plan.
He said: "I am devastated. This is a big part of mine and a lot of other people's lives. I honestly don't believe the council plan will work because they earn enough money through the bar on a Saturday night to pay staff and make a profit, so it makes no sense."
A Basildon Council spokesman said any closures at the centres were subject approval next month by the council's Executive Board.
"Proposals for weekend closure are being considered which, if approved, will take effect from September 1."
Published Thursday June 10, 2004
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