Swimming Pool closure round up 2013

I notice the same cycle over and over again in the UK, swimming pools closed due to structural costs way beyond what the council can afford (so they say) all over the UK i have seen the same process, first in my own back yard in Brierley Hill, and Coseley baths. But i now see the same argument, the same strategy and bullshit double-speak from the M.P's, councilors and even some of the groups, and people within the groups formed to stand up to the proposed closure and try to SAVE the pool.

It's a sad state of affairs in the UK for swimming and many other water sports that are impossible without the facilities. The sickly relationship between private business and Government muscle in the UK can be tracked and analysed by reducing the focus down to leisure centers, how they spread like supermarkets such as Tesco, and wipe out whatever maybe in its way.

To anybody reading this who is dealing with such scenarios at the moment, my best advice is to get an independent 'estimation' about the structural faults, or the work required to bring the facility up to scratch (according to sticky council regulations) as i have found the costs are usually massive over estimations baed on private contractor work.

One day, a community may build a not-for-profit, or community co-op capable of building and maintaining a leisure center, and/or swimming pool. Good luck, best wishes, Steve 'fly' Pratt.

p.s Here are some recent news clips to support my claims.
 

"A LAST-ditch bid has been launched to save Haslingden Pool by a group of residents who want to take it over from the council.
The Friends of Haslingden Baths, a community group look- ing to take control of the East Bank Avenue centre, are encouraging residents to show how great the need is for the facility by signing a support petition. More than 8,000 people signed a petition in 2011 calling on Rossendale Council to go ahead with a proposed revamp. But the campaigners fear this will be deemed out-of-date by the council which plans to sell off the building unless an interested party with a viable business model is found before September."

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/10566384.Residents_launch_bid_to_prevent_closure_of_Haslingden_swimming_pool/

The pool has ‘concrete cancer’ and needs repairs which would cost around £1.5million, an amount Rossendale Council says it cannot afford.

“Owing to the deteriorating condition of Minsthorpe Pool and the costs to carry out the major repairs needed at £1.2m, it is recommended that the pool be permanently closed and future provision be considered alongside wider review into all our leisure facilities. I understand the importance of people being able to enjoy healthy and active lifestyles. However, owing to continuing financial constraints placed upon us we have to review all our services, including leisure, and cabinet faces some difficult decisions.”

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/wakefield-pool-closed-as-1-2m-repairs-are-ruled-out-1-5888179

"If you don't have good facilities in the city then you don't have the ability to raise great swimmers.
"I'm very frustrated," added Mr Richardson.
Under the proposals, the Springhead golf course is also earmarked for closure and the council is considering setting up a not-for-profit company to run the city's leisure services on its behalf.
A spokeswoman for the council said the proposals were yet to be discussed and would go out to public consultation, but could not give further details.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-23576382

Council accused of gagging members

My experiences with Dudley Council and the closure of Brierley Hill and Coseley Baths also reflect this 'back handed' 'law cost infected' 'cheating' and 'double crossing' on behalf of the M.P's, and the council reps.

If there's this level of foul play in swimming pool politics imagine what it must be like with the rest of what they get up too!

--Steve fly

 

 

Council accused of gagging members

Monday, January 30, 2012

The Sentinel

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LEGAL officials at Stoke-on-Trent City Council have been accused of gagging politicians – after they banned a public question on the Dimensions fiasco.
Independent councillor Lee Wanger formally submitted a question on the long-running pool closure controversy ahead of Thursday's full council meeting.

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   Question: Independent councillor Lee Wanger

But council officer Paul Hackney told him the question had been refused because it contravened the authority's constitution.
The row comes months after WaterWorld owner Mo Chaudry was paid £21,850 by the council after he threatened legal action over the issue. The council spent a further £22,500 on its own legal bills.
Mr Chaudry has claimed the authority broke a secret deal to shut the Burslem splash pool and pay him £100,000-per-year to offer discounted swimming at WaterWorld.
Mr Wanger had hoped to draw a line under the controversy by persuading somebody within the council to admit a mistake was made, only for his question to be refused.
He said: "I wanted to ask a simple yes or no question to Mark Meredith, who was the elected mayor at the time, on whether he made the offer to Mo Chaudry.
"But Mr Hackney told me it might prejudice the arbitration.
"The deal has never added up. You don't close down a business to save £60,000 and offer a competitor £100,000 to give a discount. If somebody would finally put their hands up and admit to a mistake it could all be resolved but nobody has been willing to do that."
The latest row comes months after Mr Hackney warned councillors against discussing a motion on the aborted Dimensions closure at a full council meeting in October.
He told members the council must keep all further details confidential to avoid breaching the legal agreement with Mr Chaudry.
But fellow independent councillor Dave Conway, leader of the opposition, accused the council of acting like the "Gestapo".
He said: "This shows a complete lack of openness and transparency.
"The council has taken away an elected member's right to ask questions in a democratic chamber."
Mr Hackney today defended his decision to refuse to accept the question.
The assistant director of legal services said: "A question was asked by a councillor which was in breach of the rules councillors must follow when asking a question.
"Questions can only be asked of the council leader, relevant portfolio holder or committee chairman.
"In this case the question was directed to a separate individual and the reason for not allowing the question was given to the councillor.
"To allow the question to go forward would also go against the clear statement on the council's legal position made at the October meeting regarding a confidential mediation settlement and the consequences of any breach of confidentiality."

Police close investigation into Dimensions pool row

Saturday, January 14, 2012

The Sentinel

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POLICE investigators have ruled out taking any further action over the Dimensions splash pool closure row.
City Independents party leader Dave Conway asked Staffordshire Police to reopen their investigation into Stoke-on-Trent City Council's botched plans to close the Burslem splash pool.
He said the council's £22,000 settlement to WaterWorld owner Mo Chaudry, which saw the council acknowledge talks had taken place with the businessman, contradicted earlier assurances that no meetings had taken place.
But officers visited Mr Conway yesterday and said there was insufficient new evidence to reopen inquiries.
He said: "I'm very disappointed. The issue could have been resolved three years ago if the council had held their hands up, but they have continued to muddy the waters."
Mr Chaudry was paid to drop his legal threat, which followed claims the authority broke a deal to close the pool and pay WaterWorld £100,000-per-year to offer a discount.
A police spokesman said: "We have now reviewed this matter. We are satisfied there is no new information contained within the complaint.
"We won't be taking any further action."

Disused Shelton pool will be knocked down

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

The Sentinel

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A SWIMMING pool at the centre of a year-long campaign to save it from closure is set to be demolished.
Bulldozers will move in to clear the Shelton Pool site, although no time scale has been given for when the work will begin.

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   GOING: Shelton pool, and, above inset, our stories on the closure.

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Hundreds of people who relied on the pool signed petitions and helped launch a campaign to keep the facility open when it was earmarked for closure as part of Stoke-on-Trent City Council's £35.6m budget cuts.
But the complex shut at the end of March last year, along with Tunstall Pool, to save the council £160,000.
Once the building is demolished, the future of the site will be reviewed.
A report to councillors states: "The pool could form part of a larger redevelopment with adjacent council premises, which are the subject of a review."
Helen Burgess, pictured below, was among those who campaigned to save the pool, which was used by people suffering from medical conditions as part of their rehabilitation.
The retired hairdresser, of Millfield Crescent, Milton, who used the pool because of a long-term medical condition, said: "It's very annoying to hear that the pool will be demolished.
"We asked the council if they had any plans for the future of the pool, and they told us they hadn't. They never said anything about it being knocked down.
"I can see the building being demolished and the land being left with rubble on it for years."
Fellow campaigner Martin Hamp now uses the swimming pool at the Quality Hotel in Hanley.
The 57-year-old, of Blythe Bridge, who had used the Shelton facility for 18 years, said: "It suits our needs because of the temperature and it is not too deep. But I have had to pay for a private pool because the council decided to close Shelton. Not everyone can afford to do that. We did ask them if they could transfer some of the facilities to Fenton Manor and create a bolt-on facility, but the council wouldn't look into it.
"I don't feel the council have been honest with us over the closure.
"I don't see how much more the people of Stoke-on-Trent will be willing to put up with."
Julie Latham first started going to Shelton Pool in 2005 after being diagnosed with lupus after the joints in her hands, arms, legs and feet had completely locked.
Her situation deteriorated when she collapsed and found out she also suffered from the blood complaint thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).
But the 47-year-old from Endon says the trips to Shelton gave her a sense of independence.
She said: "I had spent seven weeks at the Haywood Hospital and I was then sent to Shelton.
"It was all geared up and was perfect for what I needed and I felt like I had my independence back. I think it's disgusting that it has closed."
The council also plans to mothball Tunstall Pool, a Grade-II listed building, which dates back to 1888, before deciding what to do with it.

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Disused-Shelton-pool-knocked/story-15156579-detail/story.html

Leisure centre 'too expensive to save '

 Morwe of the same sad news... swimming pools close due to lack of funds. Is this due to the illegal war in Iraq and Afghanistan,. the bulging Military Budget, or simple 'evil' and 'dirty tricks' by the council? 

SAVE OUR SWIMMING POOLS.

--Steven James Pratt (Fly Agaric 23)

Leisure centre 'too expensive to save '

11:27am Tuesday 1st November 2011

A COUNCIL has defended its decision to close a town's leisure centre and denied claims that it has already agreed to sell the site to developers.
Durham County Council leader Simon Henig and officers attended a meeting in Crook to explain why they decided to close Glenholme Leisure Centre.

The centre, which had a gym and swimming pool, was one of six in the county to be earmarked for closure as the council strove to shave £3.5m from its sport and leisure budget.
Ultimately, only Glenholme and Ferryhill were closed, leaving residents and campaigners furious.
At the meeting organised by the Three Towns Partnership, Coun Henig said he did not enjoy closing public facilities but said it was a necessity.

He said money had to be saved owing to cuts in funding from the Government.
Terry Collins, director of neighbourhood services, said Glenholme was under-used and would cost too much to bring back to a decent state.
He said it was one of the most expensive to run in the county and was making a loss of £259,000 a year.

He said the council wanted to encourage more people to take up sports but claimed outdoor team activities are more effective than leisure centres.

Mr Collins also said the council would seek to address the hole left in leisure in Crook by the closure, and suggested the authority might install a gym in Crook Civic Centre.
The audience also heard about plans to move the library into the civic centre, known locally as the Pagoda, which would then free up the library's site for redevelopment by a supermarket.
The council officials were quick to dismiss claims from campaigners that they had already agreed to sell the Glenholme site for redevelopment, but said any money made from the site would be used for leisure.

However, some residents remained unconvinced by the council's claims.
David English, chairman of Crook Community Partnership, said the council was turning Crook into a condemned town while resident Michael Manual accused the authority of acting like Vikings and pillaging the community.

The council spends £335,000 on running Ferryhill Leisure Centre and said it had not sold the land to any party.
A council spokesman said the authority was still looking into what was to happen to the Ferryhill centre.

Dirty Council tricks close pool in Crewe

Anger as Sandbach Swimming Pool is closed during school half-term

Oct 26 2011 by Simon Halewood, Crewe Chronicle

 

FAMILIES have criticised Cheshire East Council’s ‘ill-timed’ decision to close Sandbach Swimming Pool during the school half-term holidays.

The leisure centre pool on Middlewich Road was shut on Monday and will reopen at 4pm on Friday (Oct 28) due to ‘essential maintenance’.

New gas boilers, a pool cover and an air handling unit, to re-circulate air and controls humidity, are being installed.

However the timing of the closure has been described as ridiculous by parents, and comes just months after the council shut the pool for major refurbishment during the summer holidays.

Mother of two, Amanda Roughley, 37, of Middlewich Road said: “I think it’s stupid especially after the children lost out during the summer.

“Me and my girls have always enjoyed going for a swim together during the school holidays as we don’t get time in the school weeks so I’m not happy.”

A council spokesman said: “This work has been prioritised as urgent with winter approaching, and this has unfortunately resulted in the pool being closed during half-term.

“We apologise for any inconvenience but these measures will help to save on CO2 emissions, which is an environmental priority and make savings.”

http://www.crewechronicle.co.uk/crewe-news/local-crewe-news/2011/10/26/anger-as-sandbach-swimming-pool-is-closed-during-school-half-term-96135-29659186/

Halifax Swimming pool closure!

Pride in Elland: Don’t close our pool, pupils plead

 Pupils from Brooksbank School, Elland, have their say on the future of the town

Published on Tuesday 1 November 2011 14:00

We’ve been asking pupils at Brooksbank School in Elland what they like most about the town they go to school in.

This week, pupils in year 10 discuss what they consider to be the best and worst of the town, and the memories they have of growing up in the area.

Rosana Greenwood of Norton Tower said the swimming pool was very important to her.

“I learned to swim at the pool in Elland,” she said.
“I think it will be a shame if it closes.”
“If it did, more clubs and things to do would be nice.”
Alice Smith, who now lives in Halifax, agrees that closure is not the answer.

http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/community/pride_in_elland_don_t_close_our_pool_pupils_plead_1_3925145

UK demoloshion of swimming pools for leisure clubs.

The theme of this blog and most of my writings and my activities include swimming.  I have been involved in campaigning to save three pools in the Dudley burrough, Stourbridge, Brierley Hill and Coseley.

From my experience meeting and listening to councillors, M.P's and reading the news press, and protesting I have concluded that lawyer run capitalism, and the 'leisure and tourism' business in the UK is for the most part responsible for this national closure of 'swimming pools' in favour 'fun pools, before the 2008 economic heist, this process of removing 'free' public services has been on-going and has a complex of 'origins.

Generally I presume the process of 'privatization' and the wrestling of the 'agency for change' from the people, in effect turning us into property. The degradation of the consumer as well as the product.  I have seen this process eat away at the 'economy' with private off-shore banking, public services with private investors, health and nutrition with 'private' health clubs, social community injury's inflicted by 'private' surveilance, private 'security', private 'clubs' and private 'pubs'. Profit based death-cogs in the super-rich, super-major corporate ooze that's eating up global resources and turning the UK into a mini American satellite state, one giant mall with the occasional internement camp linking the parts together.

I don't presume that voting can make a difference in this process. I suggest that every individual must familiarize themselves with some simple questions:

1. Who distributes it?
2. How?
3. How did it get that way?
4. A hieracrhy of values?
 
--Steve

A swimming pool that sparked protests when it was threatened with closure has failed to sell at auction.

Campaigners rallied to save Edwardsville Swimming Pool in Treharris, Merthyr Tydfil, but were unable to secure enough money to keep it open.
Merthyr council closed the pool to make way for a new £30m leisure complex.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/wales/south_east_wales/10346418.stm

Meeting discusses Leeds sports centre community plans

* Social enterprise plans ambitious £1.5m scheme for threatened South Leeds Sports Centre
* Organiser 80 per cent certain community ownership will go ahead

Beeston residents last night attended a public meeting to discuss plans for the community to take control of a sports centre threatened with closure.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/leeds/2010/jul/08/south-leeds-pool