Walsall awash with swimming pools says council
Walsall awash with swimming pools says council
Adam Lumley The YamYam 20 Jan 10
Walsall Council has said that the town has twice the number of swimming pools it actually needs, leading to fears that more leisure facilities face the axe as the council continues to press ahead with its cost cutting budget.
In an attempt to justify the closure of Willenhall Leisure Centre, the council claims that there are 27 swimming pools operating in the borough when, according to a report by Sport England, the town only requires 12. Councillor Melvin Pitt, who represents Bloxwich West for the Conservatives said: “It`s costing us an arm and a leg to subsidise Willenhall baths and the simple truth is it isn’t being used enough.”
Around 80,000 people visit the baths each year including school groups who use the pool for swimming lessons and Serco, the private company that runs education in Walsall, have been told to find alternative swimming provision for Willenhall schoolchildren when the leisure centre closes. Local councillor Ian Shires for the Liberal Democrats said eight schools would be affected if the pool closed and it made no sense to him to close a facility which people can walk to and raised concerns about finding alternative provision for schoolchildren. He said: "Currently there is provision in Willenhall town centre. This is a central location which people can easily access and to me we should be looking at ways of how we can increase the usage of this centre."
Campaigners battling to save the leisure centre have poured scorn on the figures regarding swimming pool provision in the town. Elaine Ward of Alton Avenue said: “We are told there are 12 swimming pools at secondary schools and 10 at primary schools, but there are only two at secondary schools in the Willenhall area and the only one I am aware of at a primary school is Woodlands primary – this is currently closed for repairs.
“This being so, there will not be enough facilities for our very young to be taught to swim should Willenhall Leisure Centre close.”
School swimming pools are currently not open to the public and the council has suggested that residents should travel to Sandwell or Wolverhampton to use leisure facilities. Conservative leader of the council, Mike Bird who represents Pheasey Park Farm, said: "Every day we open the front door of Willenhall Leisure Centre it costs us £900. It is true that attendances have increased in recent months but from a base that was completely unacceptable. "The administration of this council has a duty by law to put forward a balanced budget and I've heard nothing to say the problems at Willenhall can be rectified."
B'ham Mail 24 Dec Willenhall Leisure Centre facing closure
Express & Star 17 Dec 09 Pensioners join fight for Willenhall Leisure Centre
Cllr Ian Shires 14 Dec Is there a glimmer of hope for Willenhall's Leisure Centre?
Cllr Ian Shires 11 Dec Scrutiny process reduced to farce
Cllr Ian Shires 10 Dec Concern expressed as plans to develop LNPs unveiled
The YamYam 8 Dec Council boss says “put up or shut up”
Cllr Ian Shires 8 Dec Community condemn plans to close Willenhall's leisure centre
Cllr Ian Shires 7 Dec Attempts to debate Leisure Centre closure rejected
Express & Star 2 Dec Council spent £200k on doomed Willenhall centre
Cllr Ian Shires 2 Dec The nonsense of scrutiny
The YamYam 30 Nov Walsall councillors scrutinise budget
Express & Star 30 Nov Campaigners step up Willenhall leisure centre fight
Cllr Ian Shires 30 Nov Comment: the theory and practice in health equalities
YamYam 23 Nov Willenhall closure “sheer vandalism” says MP
Cllr Ian Shires 19 Nov Cabinet votes down demands on closure of Willenhall Leisure Centre
Walsall Council Cabinet report 18 Nov Draft Corporate Revenue Budget for Consultation PDF
Express & Star 13 Nov Willenhall leisure centre users’ fury at closure plans
Walsall Council 13 Nov Have your say on leisure facilities online questionnaire
Express & Star 12 Nov Willenhall leisure centre axe plan
Express & Star 12 Nov Battle vow on plans to shut down centre
Cllr Ian Shires 12 Nov Willenhall Leisure Centre singled out
Express & Star 13 Oct Major review brings fears for Willenhall swimming pool
BrownhillsBob 19 Sep Comment: And so it begins
YamYam 19 Sep Walsall leisure centres under threat
YamYam links 9 Sep Cash crisis at Walsall Council
Walsall Council Willenhall Local Neighbourhood Partnership (LNP)
Walsall Council Willenhall Leisure Centre
Facebook Save Willenhall Leisure Centre