DECADES of tragedy in a river in North Dorset have spurred a parish council to back a council tax rise to save the threatened Blandford Leisure Centre.
Parish councillors in Durweston say nearly 20 deaths in living memory in the River Stour have made the leisure centre’s swimming pool a “necessity”.
Council chairman Cllr Susan Bennett said: “One member of the parish council said he could count 16 to 18 people who had drowned in the river during his lifetime.”
The council’s pledge of £3,844 a year is equivalent to nearly £25 extra on the annual precept of Band D homes in the parish. Leisure centre supporters say running costs could be met if each household in the DT11 postal area paid an extra 50 pence a week in council tax.
Parishes across North Dorset are being asked to fill a funding gap of £250,000 a year when the district council subsidy ends next March.
Steve Hitchings, chairman of the Blandford Leisure Centre Action Group, welcomed the move, and urged other parish and town councils to follow suit.
“I am delighted that Durweston has shown this very generous support and hope other villages in the DT11 area will have the courage to support the Blandford Leisure Centre in the same way,” said Mr Hitchings.
Blandford Town Council has pledged £50,000 a year for three years towards the centre’s costs.
Milton Abbas and Milborne St Andrew Surgery has pledged £1,000 a year for three years.
More North Dorset News
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here