COUNCILLORS agreed to bail out Tavistock’s Meadowlands and Parklands leisure centres with a near £300,000 cash injection - but warned it could be the last time.

West Devon Borough councillors agreed to splash out £292,000 on the two centres, a decision which means Parklands, originally closed because of the Covid-19 crisis, then re-opened, stays that way and Meadowlands, closed because of social distancing restrictions back in March, finally opens its doors to the public again after impassioned pleas by town residents.

Also on the table for consideration by a council which is facing severe financial restrictions caused by a loss of income during the coronavirus pandemic was the option to mothball both centres until next March, which would have cost the cash-strapped authority £92,000.

Instead, all 29 members present at the meeting went along with council leader Neil Jory, who told them they could find the money to re-open Meadowlands and keep Parklands going from the authority’s cash reserves.

The £292,000 will go to the charity running both centres for the council, Fusion, who will be expected to pay the cash back during its 25-year contract with the authority.

Read more in this week’s Times, out on Thursday, including reaction from campaigners.