THE Local Government Ombudsman is to be asked to investigate the latest twist in a row over Richmond's sports centre.

The building is to close on Saturday, April 17, as Richmondshire District Council tightens its belt to avoid a hefty increase in the council tax.

At an emergency meeting of the authority last week, called to debate the move, deputy leader Councillor Richard Dunn suggested Richmond Town Hall would be suitable as an alternative venue for some of the activities currently based at the sports hall.

But when Richmond Town Council met this week, members were told Coun Dunn's claims were based on a telephone call to the town hall, answered by the deputy clerk.

Mayor of Richmond Councillor Stuart Parsons said the deputy clerk was not made aware the district council's inquiry was a formal approach on behalf of the groups to be evicted from the sports hall.

He also pointed out that the town hall, which belongs to the town council and not the district authority, does not have changing facilities or showers and it was therefore unlikely sports groups would see it as a alternative venue.

"It seems an officer of Richmondshire District Council extracted the information from an officer of the town council in an underhand way and, therefore, the full facts were not used when information was presented in public," said Coun Parsons.

On the advice of the Yorkshire Local Councils Association, the town council has agreed to write to Richmondshire District Council chief executive Harry Tabiner complaining about the way the matter was handled.

Another protest will be lodged with the Local Government Ombudsman expressing concern over the way the information was used at last week's emergency meeting of the district authority.

In reply, Coun Dunn said he believed the information about Richmond Town Hall was accurate when it was presented to the meeting.

"I think I emphasised that more than once," he said. "What we have to bear in mind is that the situation can change almost daily.

"We can offer groups alternatives, but we cannot control what they want to do.

"To be honest, we may not know what the final position is until the sports centre closes on April 17."