Campaigners believe they are in "a stronger position" to reverse plans to close Auchinleck Leisure Centre after launching a second legal challenge.

Auchinleck Leisure Community Committee (ALCC) was set up in the aftermath of East Ayrshire Council's (EAC) decision to close the facility, originally announced back in October.

We reported earlier this week that Glasgow-based Govan Law Centre, the not-for-profit legal practice which has taken on the campaigners' case, had said that it has "raised a second petition for judicial review in the Court of Session."

ALCC confirmed to the Chronicle in December that they had initially started legal action against EAC, believed to be over the local authority's handling of their decision to close the centre.

Cumnock Chronicle: The dispute is over the closure of Auchinleck Leisure Centre.The dispute is over the closure of Auchinleck Leisure Centre. (Image: NQ staff)

EAC are due to hold two further in-person consultation sessions in Auchinleck to discuss the leisure centre's closure.

A reversal of the decision to close the centre is not believed to be one of the current options.

Despite this, members of ALCC believe they are in a better position to challenge the closure, which was initially set for November 2023.

A committee spokesperson said: "This stands us in a stronger position to challenge East Ayrshire’s decision to close ALC, which they have since had to reverse.

"This has been driven strongly by members of the community and we urge everyone to use their voice and go to the consultations to ensure EAC get a full picture of what the impact of closure would be."

A further two in-person consultation sessions will be held on Thursday, January 11, from 6pm to 8pm, and on Saturday, January 13, from 1pm to 3pm, both at the Boswell Centre in Auchinleck.