I MUST respond to your story in last week’s Radcliffe Times (“Centre may not be built”).

Let me clarify immediately: I did not say that we would not build a new leisure/civic centre in Radcliffe.

That is our stated aim, and we have not changed our minds about that.

What I said at the township forum, during our budget road show, was that ongoing Government cuts make it increasingly harder for us to deliver the facilities and services that our residents want, as quickly as we would all want.

We acted swiftly when the former Radcliffe Pool and Leisure Centre was damaged beyond repair by a winter storm.

We promised residents that we would create a temporary leisure centre and pool in Spring Street while we looked at how to develop a permanent replacement, and in tough financial times we found the money to pay for it.

Local people have welcomed that, and the centre is well used.

However, the council cannot wave a wand and magic up the money we need.

We have made £65 million worth of cuts in the past six years, with a further £32 million to come by 2020.

Increasingly, the little money we have is being — and must be — spent in vital areas such as adult social care.

We all want top-quality leisure facilities, but our first priority must be to look after the most vulnerable people in our society.

I’m sure all Radcliffe residents would agree with that, even if it means taking a bit longer to get a new leisure centre.

We remain committed to continuing the regeneration of Radcliffe, and to building a new leisure/civic centre in the town, and we will keep residents up to date as these plans progress.

Cllr Jane Lewis

Deputy leader of Bury Council

Cabinet member for finance and HR