I have to write to set the record straight and present the real facts relating to future leisure provision in Wiltshire.

Wiltshire Council has carried out a review of its leisure facilities. The council contributes towards the running of 23 indoor facilities and we would need to spend £93 million to maintain them for the next 25 years. This would not include any improvements or building any new facilities. In the present financial climate and in light of the review we know that this is neither affordable nor sustainable.

The review looked at leisure provision for the next 25 years and focuses on a programme of replacement, refurbishment and devolvement.

This is a very ambitious plan that proposes investment of £117 million into four new facilities as well as major improvements of a further three facilities and refurbishment in some of the others.

New state-of-the-art facilities are planned in Melksham, Trowbridge, Warminster and Amesbury/ Durrington. Major improvements are proposed in Salisbury, Devizes and Westbury, The review also looks at the possibility of devolving some centres to community groups with support from the council. This has worked well in Cricklade and Calne.

We want to help communities to retain their local facilities and to be able to manage and run them successfully in the future and we will be prepared to invest in these facilities before devolving them.

We want to talk to users of the existing facilities and invite their views on what we are proposing. We will be inviting comments through questionnaires and at our roadshows and area board meetings during the next three months.

Our aim is to provide first-class indoor facilities that allow more people to be more active more often. We are planning to invest millions of pounds.

I hope this has helped to clarify the position and that we can focus on getting the right leisure provision for the future. We welcome your views and look forward to hearing from you.

Jane Scott, Leader of Wiltshire Council.