Jake Berry MP slams Labour council’s U-turn over Haslingden swimming pool
A new swimming pool was to be the final piece in leisure redevelopment that has taken place in the borough. But Labour councillors have decided that property speculation in the Valley Centre would be a better use of the funds that have been raised for the pool.
Jake commented:
‘Diverting the funds set aside for the pool project could leave residents without swimming facilities at all in Haslingden. This would force residents to look beyond the borough with consequences for the health and wellbeing of those who may stop swimming and for youngsters who lose the opportunity to learn in the first place. Given that the Labour councillors who would now like to divert the cash elsewhere originally voted to redevelop the pool, I would be interested to know what mandate they have for this blatant U-turn.
I also take issue with the Council’s flirtation with property speculation. The Valley Centre is most definitely in need of attention and I fully support a private solution which I believe will be forthcoming. However, it seems to me that for the Council to pay £2.5-3.5m for something that its own valuation put potentially at £500,000 in its current state is ludicrous.
The Council would be far better off providing residents with a new leisure facility, something private property developers will never do, and leaving commercial property development to those with the means and incentive to do it. Furthermore, I very much doubt local residents with thank councillors for lumbering them with a mortgage on what could end up as a very expensive car park.
With that in mind I do hope that the two Lib Dem councillors or even the two Haslingden Labour councillors will see sense and help the Conservative minority put a block on this madness. ’
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The pool is one of the facilities that is most used by local residents including schools, swimming clubs and the general public. That it needs to be rebuilt is not in question. Originally built in the 1930’s, the pool has provided residents with decades of valuable service. If it is not rebuilt, it is unlikely to last without costly maintenance in future by which time there may not be the funds available. The Council’s leisure review found that without it there would not be enough pools in the area to cater for the high volume of usage.
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