text: Local swimming pools could be forced to close across UK - Families Online
  Local swimming pools could be forced to close across UK
  At a town hall meeting last week in Lancashire, it was heard that due to a £4 million debt, sports halls and pools could close in the area.
  Councillors also told the meeting that a closure like this would be "unacceptable" and thus urged members to take every effort to avoid this measure.
  Meanwhile, across England, cash-strapped councils are struggling to maintain local swimming pools and sports centres.
  However, the Government has said that it's up to local councils to decide how they want to spend their money/budget.
  The Local Government Association, which represents councils in England has told ministers that they should be committing £400 million in next month's Budget to upgrade and renovate leisure facilities.
  This money is vital in order to combat health issues such as obesity in children.
  The Local Government Association – in a public statement – also warned that many council-owned swimming pools and sports facilities are currently at risk of becoming "old and tired" due to budgets being squeezed and them being unable to pay for refurbishments.
  Meanwhile, in Coleford in the Forest of Dean, the local leisure centre needs A LOT of investment in order to keep it open in the medium term however, the local council has said that in order to find this money it will impact other local services for the community.
  A Council Spokesman told the BBC:
  "The leisure centre is over 30 years old and needs major investment to bring it up to standard - in fact, ultimately it really needs replacing and we can't afford to do it on our own."
  Sport England released figures in 2015 which highlighted that 58% of sports hall and 60% of swimming pools were more than 20 years old.
  "Councils are doing all they can to keep leisure centres up and running, but many are in desperate need of refurbishment," Gerald Vernon-Jackson, chairman of the LGA's culture, tourism and sport board, told the BBC.