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A shake-up in indoor sports provision is being planned and people are being asked for their views before an April 30 deadline when a report will be produced on the future of 18 leisure centres run by Manchester City Council.

Discussions held earlier this year included the possibility of setting up private trusts to run shabby sports centres and stem the flow of users to health clubs which could affect community facilities at Crumpsall, Harpurhey and New Moston.

Leisure bosses are worried new developments around the city for the Commonwealth Games will highlight the poor condition of community sports centres which have seen a steady fall in the number of users.

Although Crumpsall's Abraham Moss Centre attracts more users than any other facility of its kind; the number has fallen from 222,000 to 208,000 a year since 1996. Harpurhey Pools has seen the figure fall from 78,000 to 60,000 in the same period.

Each customer at Abraham Moss is subsidised to the tune of ?3.18 and each one at Harpurhey costs the council ?4.30 while the average subsidy for Greater Manchester is ?1.75 a head.

There are currently 18 leisure facilities operated by the local authority and some are between 65 and 90 years old having originally opened as public wash houses and laundries.

It is estimated that ?30m investment will be needed to refurbish and modernise the existing facilities across the city and one facility alone requires ?7m.

Manchester City Council is unable to provide significant levels of funding and is looking to form new partnerships to improve the leisure provision to attract regular club use.

Without the necessary investment, leisure chiefs warn it will become increasingly difficult to maintain the outdated facilities resulting in some closures to contain costs.

Manchester City Council is now considering setting up Leisure Trusts with charitable status to manage and maintain the sports centres.

Views are being sought on what opportunities should be available, how they should be provided, what the council's role should be and how communities can benefit from new facilities being built for the Commonwealth Games.

People who live or work in the city can register an interest by e-mailing This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , by freephone on 0800 169 5549 or by fax on 0161 776 1928.