A DISABLED campaigner is leading calls to save Darwen Leisure Centre after the future of the 73-year-old building became uncertain.

Dr William Shepherdson has made a personal plea to Blackburn with Darwen Council to renovate and retain the existing building.

A consultation has been organised by the council, with the possibility of the building being closed and relocated to a more modern development, but Mr Shepherdson has urged officers to think again.

Mr Shepherdson, of Mellor Brow, Blackburn, initially went to the gym for cardiac rehabilitation after six heart bypasses, as the centre provides good facilities for the disabled and older people.

But he was amazed to learn that the future of the building was in doubt and wrote to the consultants to voice his concerns.

He said today: "I hope the Darwen people are not deprived of this facility.

"I feel privileged to use Darwen's leisure centre.

"I travel nine miles to use it a minimum three times per week, as do a number of my friends who travel from Rochdale and Bolton.

"The bath is a reasonable depth and length to get cardiac benefit and I swim an average of four miles per week. This is necessary as I cannot walk more than 100 yards with two crutches."

He went on to praise the staff who he said "help people who are registered disabled like myself".

He said: "This centre is a good candidate for renovation as the building shell is in a good state of repair.

"The bath is open all day, making it possible for me to go swimming with a disability, not inconveniencing others. I have written to the survey people complaining that the document is biased, encouraging people to highlight what is wrong and not including the good aspects of the centre."

Council officers are assessing whether other sites in the town could meet the town's sports and leisure needs better than the current centre, which it referred to as "ageing and dated". Leisure general manager

Steve Fitzmaurice said: "The consultation between Darwen residents, users of the leisure centre and the council intends to find if the centre is still meeting the needs of the community.

"We have had a fantastic response and a large number of people have had their say on the leisure centre's future.

"We expect recommendations informed by the feedback to be made in the autumn.

"A feasibility study will then take place to make sure the suggestions are practical and affordable.

"Improvements will then go ahead with the minimal amount of inconvenience to users."