Students from Castle Rock School in Coalville have written a letter to North West Leicestershire District Council supporting a scheme to re-open the Hermitage Leisure Centre in Whitwick.

As well as that, they have also starred in a video explaining why the facility should be made available to the public again - you can see that by clicking on the image above.

They are backing plans by community group Coalville CAN - Communities and Neighbours - to make the site accessible once more.

The open letter from Castle Rock was signed by the newly-elected chairman of North West Leicestershire District Council, Cllr Russell Boam, at the official opening of the CAN offices in Memorial Square.

Hermitage was closed earlier this year when the district council's new £22.5million leisure centre on the Coalville by-pass was launched.

But Coalville CAN believes the former site can cater for activities that do not overlap with the new centre.

The Hermitage site is now boarded up and - say CAN officials - that costs the council un-necessary money.

North West Leicestershire District Council chairman Cllr Russell Boam signs the open letter from Castle Rock School students. Photo: Coalville Nub News

Coalville CAN plans to re-launch the site with an indoor skate park where the swimming pool was, parkour activities and a new community cafe.

The group put forward a proposition to North West Leicestershire District Council last December - weeks before Hermitage was due to close.

Now they have a meeting planned with officers next month,

The group's aim is to work with partners in the community, existing users and people with relevant expertise to continue to use the site and the building - and provide positive opportunities and activity at minimum cost to the Council.

Coalville CAN want to take on a 'meanwhile' use for 18 months of the building.

You read the proposal in full HERE.

The Hermitage Leisure Centre in Whitwick could re-open. Photo: Coalville Nub News

The plan has been backed by Castle Rock pupils who have put together this letter to the council.

"We, the pupils from Year 7 at The Castle Rock School, feel impelled to write to you.

We would like to fight for the future of the Hermitage leisure centre so that we can keep it at the heart of our community. 

So often we hear people complaining about teenagers.

People say teenagers hang around. People say teenagers cause trouble.

People say that teenagers are up to no good.

But it simply isn't true. Here, in Coalville, we are the teenagers who want to make things better for our local area.

Castle Rock Students have been studying ways in which Hermitage Leisure Centre for the community. Photo: Castle Rock School

We want to be involved in exciting projects. We want to experience new things. We want this area to be the best it can be.

We know that we are incredibly lucky to have a brand new leisure centre in the area but we have a vision that the old Hermitage Leisure centre can be used in alternative and adventurous ways. Just imagine what it could bring to the area.

• Imagine if the national parkour centre was located in North West Leicestershire... it could bring so many visitors to our area.

• Imagine if we created an indoor skate park... it could take the young people off the streets who are causing bother and put them into a positive environment where they could thrive.

• Imagine if there was a community cafe where people could meet... not only would it provide jobs but it would provide a place where people young or old could come together avoiding isolation and lonelinessWe are determined that the future of the Hermitage Leisure centre helps all people in our community. We have made many memories there and want the next generations to make memories there too.

Please consider our proposal. We are passionate about the place we live. We want it to be a thriving place where you can fit in no matter what your hobbies and interests are. We don't want to take away from the new leisure centre, we want to add other things so that everyone can be involved in something that makes them happy. 

Thank you for listening to us. We are only 11 and 12 years old but this is an issue we hold close to our hearts.

Kind regards

The Pupils of The Castle Rock School"

A Facebook page has been set up to support the re-opening of the Hermitage Centre, you can find that HERE.