Musings of a CWaCer

Hello there!

On 1st May,  the Conservative Executive approved plans for a £15million Sports Village in Ellesmere Port to replace the EPIC.

You can read the full story by clicking here.

It all boils down to these few points:

• For decades, Labour failed to invest in the EPIC. In the end they resorted to boasts about putting a net up by the ceiling to prevent bits of it hitting swimmers on the head when it crumbled.
• After the new council was set up and elected in 2008, during its shadow year, the old Labour council spent £100,000 on consultants to establish what leisure facilities were needed and wanted in Ellesmere Port for the future.
• Labour’s report concluded a 50metre pool was not needed, was not justifiable and not affordable to build, maintain or use.
• Cllr Justin Madders handed this report, which had been voted on and supported by Labour councillors several times, to the new council in 2009, describing its proposals as “unbeatable”.
• The Labour MP was asked for his help 2 years ago to see if funding could be secured to build an even bigger pool than 25metres. Not only did he fail to find a single penny, Sport England have made it clear that they will provide funding for a 25metre pool only, as they believe there is no need or justification for a larger pool.
• Labour’s claims to have an alternative provider who can build a 50m pool for less than our plans are false. They did not have the full specification of the site or the other sports and facilities proposed for inclusion. When they spoke to council officers and fund the full information, they agreed that they couldn’t get near the standard of the council;s proposals for the same price.

It is, I am afraid, yet another example of the local Labour Party trying to deceive people. They energetically supported one thing for years, when the Conservatives come forward with plans that are even better, as we have, Labour then claim they can provide something even bigger, despite quickly being proven to not be true.

So, whilst other councils are closing their leisure centres (including Labour-run Manchester who are closing other leisure centres because of the very high cost of their 50m pool), here in Cheshire West we are building whole new leisure centres, with no thanks to the Labour Party.

TTFN
Gareth.