The new sports centre opened by Cambridge University in August is causing indignation among city councillors. University chiefs have allegedly reneged on an agreement to obtain approval from the City Council regarding pricing.

It had been planned that the University would obtain approval from the city council for details concerning the use of the centre by city residents. However, the facility opened last month without these terms having been agreed upon. Councillors are concerned that the prices for city residents who are not affiliated with the university is prohibitive.

Monthly memberships for Cambridge residents will start at £31. This figure is eleven pounds more than the figure cited by Councillor Rod Cantrill as a reasonable price for a monthly membership, when he was questioned on the issue at a West/Central area committee meeting. Councillors have stated that the University was given consent to build thousands of new houses on the site, located in North West Cambridge, because there had been an understanding that the community would be allowed to make use of the sports centre that was also being built by the University.

Councillor Cantrill has asked planning chiefs to punish the University for the way in which it has managed the new facility. The councillors say that it is vital to address this issue quickly, as a swimming pool and tennis court are soon to be added to the centre.

However the University denied the controversy saying, “While there are a couple of outstanding issues under discussion before the planning agreement can be fulfilled, the council’s planning manager said at a meeting with the University that they were happy for the building to be occupied.”