Tory threat to swimming pools restated

8.25.00am GMT Wed 13th Jan 2010

The top Tory responsible for leisure services at Wiltshire Council (WC) Stuart Wheeler has confirmed his opinion that West Wiltshire has too many swimming pools. Despite being pressed by Trowbridge councillor Steve Oldrieve at a meeting of Wiltshire Council's 'Environment Select Committee' Cllr Wheeler repeatedly confirmed the line. However closures will not take place until after the general election.

The committee was considering a report which has already been approved by the WC cabinet.

The report says that, "Inevitably there will be difficult choices". It recognises the risk of people not liking having their pools shut by reminding councillors that, "The plan includes a range of proposals which may be seen by local communities as threatening local services. Local views may directly conflict with priorities identified within (the) report."

As for where the axe will fall, the signs are ominous for West Wiltshire. "Some communities in the west of the county have several swimming pools serving them." There is an "Over provision of 25m swimming pools" The author of the report says there should be "Fewer buildings more services".

Comment - It was always difficult at West Wilts District Council to keep the swimming pools open in each of the five towns, but we did it because it was what the residents wanted. Now we have a situation where the person responsible for leisure in Wiltshire represents a distant constituency and risks no electoral comeback by closing our facilities.