A rejected plan to convert a Leicestershire leisure centre into a community hub has been branded a “broken dream”. The Hermitage Leisure Centre, in Whitwick, near Coalville, was demolished in 2023 despite a local residents’ group putting forward their own plans for the site.

Coalville C.A.N wanted to see the building turned into a community-run hub, offering multi-use events and activity spaces for arts, learning, and social gatherings. Their plan included affordable housing, a community café, a parkour zone and a youth creative learning programme.

However, North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) decided not to take that proposal forward, saying it believed it was no longer viable to maintain the vacant building and around £2.1 million worth of repairs would have been ne

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