CAMPAIGNERS will be lobbying users of Colchester Leisure World as they fight plans to hand the centre over to an independent trust.
Labour councillors see plans by Conservative-run Colchester Council to set up a trust to run the authority's leisure and sports services as privatisation, and are gathering a petition against the proposal.
Tim Young, the council's Labour group leader, said: "We are sure that very few people know about the Tories' plans to privatise sport and leisure in Colchester."
He said the creation of a trust would mean services would not be "accountable to the democratically-elected council but to an appointed board of trustees".
"We're certain that this will mean cuts in the range of services provided at these centres and a probable significant increase in fees and charges," he said.
Kevin Bentley, leisure spokesman on the council's cabinet, defended the plan and accused Labour councillors of playing party politics.
He said a trust would give "highly trained people freedom to run the service", and allow them to access fresh sources of funding.
The council would have representation on the trust and retain ownership of all buildings, including Tiptree and High Woods sports centres.
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Friday, November 18, 2005
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