Residents of Pewsey, Wootton Bassett and Corsham are beginning to look in to how they might go about taking over their leisure centres.

In Pewsey a public meeting is to be called by the parish council to decide the way forward.

Pewsey’s Wiltshire councillor Jerry Kunkler, who is portfolio holder for leisure centres, said he would ensure that the centre had a future, possibly run by a partnership involving the community and Pewsey Vale School, because his late father, Geoff, had been involved in getting the pool built in the 1960s.

He said: “The possibility is that the community (the whole of the Pewsey Vale area, not just Pewsey) could take it over and make it work. Pewsey is a strong community so this is something that would work.”

Wiltshire Council would ensure the leisure centres and pools would be handed over to the communities in good order, said Coun Kunkler.

“The dilapidated roof over the pool will be replaced and a budget of £625,000 has been set over the next two years to do this work,” he said.

Users of Lime Kiln Leisure Centre in Wootton Bassett have also vowed to save their centre – three years after they fought off an earlier plan for closure by then North Wiltshire District Council.

Central to the latest battle will be the leisure centre’s largest user group, the Otters swimming club, which has 360 members.

One of the group’s coordinators, Karen Hall, said people wouldn’t let the centre go without a fight.

She said: “We are the second largest swimming club in the whole of Wiltshire and we focus on learning to swim and development. As a result there will be a big hit on the community and the surrounding villages if we have to go elsewhere to Calne or Swindon.

“Whatever plan of action is formed, the Otters will be a big part of it. At least we have five years to do something about it.”

Last week Corsham Town Council chairman Allan Bosley said the potential transfer of the Springfield Leisure Centre was an opportunity for the town.

However, others are not so sure. Ruth Ross, from the Corsham Badminton Club, said: “It is not a very secure way to keep it running as the group would need to find a lot of money.”