A BITTER war of words over the closure of a sports centre has been re-ignited after group users were told they had to leave by next month.

About 70 people turned up to protest at a meeting in January when Richmondshire District Council first debated closing Richmond Sports Centre to keep a rise in council tax down to a minimum.

The authority's community committee was told the building would cost too much to upgrade and the administration could save up to £40,000 if it closed and reassigned staff to other posts.

Groups with block bookings were originally told they had until next month to find alternative facilities. The council suggested the privately-run sports hall at Brompton-on-Swale and Colburn, but this was revised to allow groups to use the centre without supervision. Now the groups have been told that staying on is not an option.

The council has confirmed health and safety legislation and increased insurance costs have scuppered the idea and the building will close on April 17.

A pre-school group is still in negotiations with the council, although it has been warned that remaining at the sports hall would mean higher costs.

Richmond's mayor and district councillor Stuart Parsons, who has already called on the public to write to the Local Government Ombudsman about the issue, said he was not surprised by the decision.

"The council just doesn't seem to care what local people are saying. It's almost as if we are living in a dictatorship.

"I understand letters have been received by the Ombudsman and the Standards Committee for England, and I would encourage others to do the same."

Richmond District Council leader John Blackie said the decision to close the sports hall was prompted by the public's demand that council tax rises were kept to a minimum.

"Of course, we regret the decision we have had to take," he said. "However, we have emphasised all along that new sports centres are on stream for Richmond and, if the public are going to enjoy joint-use sports facilities at Richmond School, we will soon have to make a down-payment. The money has to come from somewhere."