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Council boss says “put up or shut up”
Embattled leader of Walsall Council, Mike Bird has defended the proposed closure of Willenhall Leisure Centre saying that the council cannot “keep on sticking a plaster over a sore”.
More than 3,000 Willenhall residents have already signed a petition demanding that the popular leisure facility should remain open and over 1000 have joined an internet campaign on the Facebook social network website. Local councillors have been joined by MP David Winnick in condemning the closure which is part of Walsall’s Draft Budget proposals aimed at saving £11.2 million. Mr Winnick blasted the plan, accusing the Tory council of “impertinence” and “sheer vandalism.”
Last week saw a series of meetings of the council’s scrutiny panels to discuss the budget proposals but attempts to raise concerns over the closure fell upon deaf ears. Both the Regeneration and Children’s and Young People Scrutiny Panels were not allowed to formally comment as the issue is not in the “perview” of those committees as it came under the remit of Neighbourhoods and Community.
Eight Primary schools in the area use the centre for swimming lessons and the Community Scrutiny Panel were at least allowed to ask what alternative swimming provision is available. It seems that swimming, as part of the National Curriculum, will be taught in Wolverhampton leaving local schools to pick up the bill for transport and fees. Stressing the importance of the leisure centre in Willenhall, Councillor Sean Coughlan told The YamYam: “This is not just about a swimming pool, it’s about the future of our town and the future of our community.”
Willenhall Labour Councillor Carl Creaney has described the threat as “a disgrace” and Councillor Ian Shires for the LibDems said: “This is a draft budget put forward by Walsall’s Tory Cabinet for consultation, yet each attempt that has been made by opposition councillors to get a formal resolution expressing concern at the proposed closure has been met with resistance from Tory councillors. What’s the point of consulting if all you want to hear are comments in agreement with the content of the draft budget.”
The campaign to save the leisure centre has received support from Noel Winter, facilities director at the national Amateur Swimming Association and Gwyn Davies, Chair of Walsall Swimming Club. Campaigner organiser Diane Coughlan said: “People in Willenhall are up in arms over this and we are not going to just accept it and take it lying down.
“It’s not just about the swimming, but there are a number of other well used activities held here, such as the tea dances, gymnastics and the badminton club and the keep fit classes.”
Last year, the number of people using the facility grew by 17% and a new report highlights that an extra 15,000 visitors will use the centre this year. The Leader of Council, however, remains bullish. Mike Bird, who represents Pheasey Park Farm for the Conservatives said: “I would call upon councillors Shires, Creaney and Coughlan to come forward with their own budget that means we can leave Willenhall Leisure Centre out.
“It’s losing £965 a day, which is a huge amount over the year. There comes a time when you cannot keep on sticking a plaster over a sore, which is why we have made this decision. So I lay the gauntlet down. It’s a case of put up or shut up.”
The majority Tory council will approve the budget in February.