THE next six months will be crucial to the future of the financially-troubled Bridge Street Sports Centre in Leominster, writes Jeremy Finney.

The £3.2million complex has run at a loss since opening three years ago and now Sport England, who invested almost £2m in the project, have introduced a manager on their behalf and brought in a firm of leisure consultants in an attempt to save the centre.

The aim is to show that it can be made sustainable by the time of the next annual general meeting of Leominster Playing Fields, the charity which runs the complex, in September.

But if that cannot be achieved the threat of closure to some part or the whole of the facility loomed, warned Robin Thompson, of PMP Consultancy who are working on behalf of Sport England, at a meeting of the Playing Fields.

He said that that the short-term aim was to make the centre viable and used by the whole community and the long term was to show that there was a sustainable future for 30 years or more.

"It will not be easy to turn the place around. It may not be achievable, but we will be honest and see what is needed," said Mr Thompson.

"There is a need to be realistic and if we don't think it is sustainable we will say so."

He said that a leisure manager had been provided in the form of David Paul, who would hold the position for six months and report to Sport England and PMP Consult-ancy.

Playing Fields chairman Jenny Williams, one of the trustees who were reduced to the minimum three during the year, welcomed Sport England's intervention.

Cuts had been made to keep to keep the centre open during the summer and she thanked all those whose unqualified help had kept it running through difficult times.

The complex has been renamed from Bridge Street Park to Bridge Street Sports Centre and trustees are back to a number of five.