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SPN AUG 2010 PoolCuts
www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk
Tough TimeS AheAd For CommerCiAl PoolS
As the strings on the public purse start to tighten, we highlight how some of the cost cutting decisions on both a local and national level could well ‘change the face of public swimming for decades’
L
ocal authority pools have been placed in the line of fire for major cost cutting which could alter the face of public swimming facilities in the UK for a decade.
Authorities in England, Scotland and Wales
have been drawing up urgent cash saving measures and swimming pools are clearly on the hit list along with community centres and libraries. The programme of cuts is all aimed at ‘balancing the books’ by 2015. Local Authority Association spokesman Nigel
Eyre said: “When local authorities look, as they have to, at major savings they will certainly look at leisure facilities or luxury items first. We are aware as an association that swimming pools may have to be closed or face reduced hours. Pools and libraries are I am afraid well up the list of the best options. It could change the face of public swimming in Britain for a few years.” The first blow was the ending of the previous
Government’s free swimming plan for teenagers and pensioners. But it’s the lack of funds to properly maintain
and keep swimming hours at their current level which is the biggest concern. Examples of pool closures and reduced
swimming hours have been increasing in the last six months. More are likely to follow. One estimate was that 160 pools faced certain closure over the next 12 months as insufficient funds were available to keep the pools. Another 300 are thought to be at risk. New projects are set to be cancelled.
The Labour group at the Local Government
Association issued a blistering attack after the announcement that free swimming initiatives would be among the first to be cut. Anger across local government was also
intensified by the Treasury admitting that the NHS is set to carry over a £1bn under-spend which other sectors will not be able to do. Labour’s local government group attacked the
coalition government’s decision to end free swimming in public pools for under 16s and over 60s from 1 July. Group spokesman Simon Henig, said: “This
one decision will cause a triple whammy of knock-on effects for the public. Children and older people lose their free swimming entitlement, the health benefits of more
Said a spokesman for the LGA: “Every
authority will be looking at every line of expenditure and that includes pools. And obviously there are facilities which are expensive commodities and one has to look at whether they are affordable or not.” Plans for a £30m super health, leisure and
community centre have been shelved just weeks before work was due to start, after its funding was suspended in a crackdown on spending by the new Government. Holt Park Wellbeing Centre in Leeds was on the
list of schemes suspended by the coalition Government as they reviewed projects approved under Labour. A total of 12 schemes in the city worth £2bn were axed, while another 12 were suspended and will be reviewed.
“Every authority will be looking at every line of expenditure and that includes pools”
opportunities to get involved in sport will disappear and the 2012 Legacy is undermined.” The Child Poverty Action group also challenged
the government’s decision to cut training programmes for young people: “Cutting urgent funds to guarantee young people jobs, instead of drifting towards long-term unemployment, could threaten the recovery.” Examples of cutbacks, closures and tough
decisions on local authority leisure facilities have it seems only just started. One swimming pool that sparked protests
when it was threatened with closure has failed to sell at auction. Campaigners rallied to save Edwardsville
Despite a campaign to save Edwardsville
Swimming Pool, money could not be secured to save the 80-year old pool
Swimming Pool in Merthyr Tydfil, but were unable to secure enough money to keep it open. Generations of the same families enjoyed splashing in the pool during its 80-year history. The pool is not the only leisure facility in Wales to face the axe in recent years and with the state of the economy and promised spending cuts is unlikely to be the last.
Council chiefs from Walsall are to go on a fact-
finding visit to leisure facilities in two northern towns as part of a major review of community buildings. They need to save £50m in the next three years. Walsall has 27 public swimming pools, of which
22 are in schools, and the council wants to reduce the number as part of the savings. Willenhall Leisure Centre has already been
earmarked for closure later this year, despite a campaign to save it. Now a delegation of councillors and leisure
managers are to travel to Rotherham, Yorkshire, and Bolton, Lancashire, on a fact-finding tour of leisure centres. Walsall’s new leisure, culture and environment
boss Councillor Anthony Harris said: “I am going to see how they do it in those other places, to see whether they have better practices than us and if there are any policies we could learn from them. We are keen to learn lessons from other authorities that have been through a similar process and also look at how other providers deliver leisure services.” spn
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