The views of a local community on what it would like to see included in plans to re-open a neglected sport centre in Bristol are being sought.

Campaigner Charlotte Leslie is asking local people to offer their suggestions for what facilities they would want to see at the currently derelict Robin Cousins Sports Centre, in Avonmouth.

The beleaguered sport centre was closed almost two years ago, because of issues with funding. It has lain derelict since then.

However, Charlotte has been leading a campaign to get the centre re-opened once more, for the benefit of the local community. She recently launched a petition, delivered both door-to-door and online, calling for the centre to be re-opened, which has secured more than 200 signatures.

Charlotte also secured the backing of Olympic gold medallist Robin Cousins, after whom the centre was named, for her campaign.

Gauging Public Opinion

Now, with the possibility of the centre opening its doors once more tentatively scheduled for the end of the year, Charlotte is now gauging public opinion of what the local community would like from the amenity.

Charlotte, who is also the Conservative Prospective MP for Bristol North West, is working with the purchaser of the centre, Police Recruitment Officer Ian Moore, to gather feedback from local people on what they want their local facility to offer.

To aid her in this, Charlotte will be delivering more than 1000 surveys to local households, and has also set up an online survey, using survey monkey, to get as many responses as possible.

Speaking ahead of the launch of the survey, Charlotte said:

“Avonmouth and Shirehampton have been stripped of their local facilities in recent years, but I’ve been fighting to get The Robin Cousins Centre open as a local amenity for local people.

“Therefore it makes sense to give local residents the say on what they would like to go on in the centre.

“The re-opening presents so many exciting opportunities for Avonmouth and Shirehampton.

“We want as much feedback from residents as we can on what people want from their new leisure centre, and so we are encouraging people to have their say by filling in the on-line survey.”

Ian Moore, who is looking to buy the building without access rights said:

“Hopefully we are on the home run in getting the centre re-opened.

“We want to make sure that local people are the driving force behind what happens in the sports centre, and hope that the new centre will have something for everyone.

“So please, fill in the survey and let us know what you want”