Renovating the closed Halifax Swimming Pool building has not been ruled out as an option to address lack of leisure provision in Halifax, senior councillors say.
Calderdale Conservatives tabled a motion at the full meeting of Calderdale Council saying discontinuing development of a new leisure centre at North Bridge, Halifax, will leave the town “without leisure facilities for the foreseeable future and possibly for years to come.”
This is because partial demolition of the existing leisure centre at North Bridge, planned demolition of the old pool building at Skircoat Road, Halifax, and closure of sports centres at Mixenden Activity Centre and Threeways, Ovenden, had reduced options further, they argued.
Group leader Coun Steven Leigh (Con, Ryburn) said: “So there is a problem, there is a crisis.”
He feared £12.2 million of Government funding, which could be used as part of a solution, might be lost if not used in a timescale.
The motion was defeated, Labour’s amendment winning out, committing the council to implementing a full review of options for leisure provision available in the current financial climate, the review to be completed within 12 months.
Labour argued the spiralling rate of inflation and cost of living crisis was hitting councils across the country and particularly those in the north after a decade of austerity cuts resulting in the new leisure centre project having to be paused.
Salford Council has cancelled plans for a major new leisure centre and there were widespread reports across the country of temporary pool closures, including at neighbouring Kirklees, said the group.
Coun George Robinson (Con, Hipperholme and Lightcliffe) said the amendment removed the obligation to halt demolition work on the Halifax Swimming Pool building.
“If it’s off the table, write it down – but it’s not in there,” he said.
Coun Adam Wilkinson (Lab, Sowerby Bridge) responded: “The amendment says quite clearly the council had made commitment to a full review of all options of leisure provision including refurbishment of existing premises alongside new provision.”
Another option available would be just building a new swimming pool and looking to extend it in the future if resources became available, said Coun Paul Bellenger (Lib Dem, Greetland and Stainland).
Coun Leigh said demolishing the building should be put on hold and councillors reported there seemed to be a lot of activity at the closed old pool building.
Cabinet member for Public Services, Coun Jenny Lynn (Lab, Park) said: “For the avoidance of doubt, there is work going on at the moment and that’s due to asbestos removal and that’s all it is – that’s being done as part of the review.”
Regarding the paused plans for the new leisure centre Coun Lynn said: “We have not ditched the development at North Bridge – we have paused it to take stock.”
Earlier, asking which Cabinet member had taken the decision to pause the project and why the “true situation” facing financing of the project was not broached earlier, Coun Leigh said: “This has been shrouded in mystery, secrecy and lack of transparency.”
Coun Scullion refuted this and said Cabinet decisions were collective with no provision in the council’s constitution for decision-taking.
Information provided at the full council meeting at the end of September was accurate at that time, she said.
The options issue was also raised in the meeting’s public question time.
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