OFFICIALS faced angry protestors as they arrived to hand out redundancy notices to staff at a popular Hagley gym.

Around 50 people gathered at Haybridge Sports Centre, Brake Lane, on Monday January 12, to show their support for the facility which seems doomed to close to the public in March with the loss of seven jobs.

Campaigners vowed to fight plans to withdraw £200,000 in annual funding and the loss of the centre, which provides a range of sporting activities.

Dr David Nicholl, from Woodland Avenue, said: “This closure is absolutely daft, everyone I have spoken to in Hagley is really angry about this decision - this is a fight which the council is going to lose.

“I think there has been a lamentable level of consultation with the District Council about what is a truly fantastic resource.”

Determined campagners have turned to the internet to pubicise their objections with a Facebook site and online petition at the Prime Minister’s Number Ten website.

Council officials will also face tough questions at a public meeting about the closure on Wednesday January 28, at 8pm, in Hagley Community Centre, Worcester Road.

A spokesperson from Bromsgrove District Council said: “Providing leisure opportunities for residents is something we take seriously but is not a statutory obligation.

“Therefore, in 2006 when members faced a tough budget round they decided to withdraw funding from two of its leisure centres in a bid to target cash at essential services for customers.

“The leisure centre in Wythall was successfully taken over by the adjoining school in 2007 but, despite the Council funding Haybridge Leisure Centre for the last two years whilst searching for alternative provider, no agreement has been reached.

“However the Council still remains hopeful that an agreement similar to that in Wythall may still be achieved.”