Eastside 'let down' over swimming pool closure
SWANSEA'S deputy leader says the council is "letting down" the Eastside by closing a community pool.
Councillor John Hague told his fellow cabinet members he could not agree with plans to "mothball" Cefn Hengoed Community Pool.
The facility in the school in Bonymaen will close as part of a £10 million refurbishment, but it will not then reopen.
Mr Hague told the meeting: "I welcome the work to Cefn Hengoed: work is really needed on education on the east side of the river.
"For a change, money is being invested in education — we've already lost one school, although I understand it may be reopened for another use.
"The cabinet paper says the pool is being mothballed, but the pool is being closed. We've nothing else on the Eastside for swimming, which means everyone has to go out of the area.
"Staff and boffins (in the council) feel we can do without it. I think it's a total disgrace the pool is going from them and I am really disappointed."
However, Swansea Council said figures showed the pool was not well used.
From April 2009 to March 2010 there were 25,000 recorded visits at Cefn Hengoed Pool.
In comparison, in the same period Penlan pool recorded more than150,000 visits, Penyrheol pool recorded close to 100,000 visits and Morriston recorded more than 40,000.
Swansea Council secured an £8 million grant from the Assembly and pledged £2 million of its own funds to upgrade the school which has around 650 pupils.
The improvements will include a new teaching block featuring high-tech science labs, a range of computer suites and a new flexible library space.
Other features of the project include modern, bigger classrooms and wi-fi access throughout the building.
Community facilities at the school will also be upgraded as part of the project with the sports hall floor, which will be replaced and a new PE classroom will be built.
Swansea Council said the swimming pool would be decommissioned because it "requires significant capital investment to be brought up to standard as well as a sizeable subsidy from the council to ensure its ongoing operation".
The council also said it would make "every effort" to accommodate Cefn Hengoed swimmers elsewhere in the city.
The matter was up for discussion at Swansea Council's cabinet meeting because members were being asked to approve the contract for the construction.
Mr Hague abstained from the vote but all the other cabinet members voted in favour of it.
He added: "I do welcome the money being spent there. I'm pleased the cabinet member for education, Mike Day and the director of education Richard Parry decided to go down this road instead of closing Cefn Hengoed — which was the rumour for some time.
"However, I would not be able to sleep at night if I voted for it, although I accept Cefn Hengoed needs refurbishment."
Council leader Chris Holley said he welcomed the refurbishment at the school, adding that it was "needed".
helen.keates@swwmedia.co.uk
12 Comments
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by Observer, Neath
Tuesday, January 18 2011, 10:49PM
“Paul - the running costs of the pool would be 'revenue' - cash the council has to find year on year from its Welsh Assembly Grant and council tax.
The cash for the Boulevard will be 'capital' - basically a grant from WAG to pay 'one off' costs (i.e. build it) for major works. You can't use capital to meet day to day running costs - that is a condition of the capital grant.
So you can't use boulevard cash to pay for the pool. Those are the facts.”
by Paul, Killay
Monday, January 17 2011, 3:51PM
“Better a fancy Boulevard than services for the community.
Now the Lib Dems are in bed with the Tories Nationally maybe they should try and dump the independants and join the Tories locally.
Sorry, that wouldn't work they wouldn't have a majority.”
by Bob, Treboeth
Monday, January 17 2011, 12:42PM
“He said he couldn't vote for it so he abstained,he didn't have the bottle to actually vote against it.”
by Philip, Swansea
Monday, January 17 2011, 10:52AM
“Forgive me if I'm wrong, but am I right in remembering that Cefn Hengoed pool isn't 25m, and isn't 8 lanes wide?
Perhaps the reasons it's figures are down is because it can't attract the swimming clubs like other pools can.”
by Paul, Llanelli
Sunday, January 16 2011, 9:17PM
“Huge blow for the public plus the pupils at Cefn Hengoed and the neighboring Primary Schools who use the pool extensively. If they continue with swimming on the curriculum it means spending valuable time being transported elsewhere.”
by roy adams, dunvant
Sunday, January 16 2011, 9:13PM
“Another kick in the teeth for the children on the Eastside of Swansea.
Recently Cwm school was closed, now the only swimming pool around the area is also to close.
Children must be encourage to take exercises and mix together, and what better way than learning to swim, after all Swansea is a sea side resort and learning to swim is essential. Unfortunatly we have a ruling council who continues to turn our City into deterioration. and it is the children who are taking the brunt of their incompetence . While many workers are due to have no pay increase these councillors are expecting a 3% pay increase, no wonder Swansea's council taxes have increased more than most other councils in Wales. What other businesses would award pay increase's and security for inefficency?.”
by Paul Jones, Swansea
Sunday, January 16 2011, 12:16PM
“Ray, hit the nail on the head there, all councillors operate the same way. This is why Swansea will never move forward,”
by Paul Lloyd, Winch Wen
Saturday, January 15 2011, 9:28PM
“The Lib-Dem /Independent Swansea Council (Holley's Wallies) have brought this city to its knees.School closures , now Cefn Hengoed swimming pool closure, Eastside people won't forget what they've done to us when the council elections are held in 2012. I'm looking forward to it.”
by Puffin Billie, Six Pit Junction.
Saturday, January 15 2011, 5:25PM
“The Council say "Every effort " is to accomadate Cefn Hengoed swimmers else where. Ahh Yes ? This brings back memories ? The Swansea Vale Railway Society at Upper Bank supposed to be accomadated elsewhere ! What the hell happened to that , and at what cost I ask myelf ?”
by Ray Welsby, Clase Morriston
Saturday, January 15 2011, 4:14PM
“How can this councillor say the council are letting the people down with closing the swimming pool at Cefn Hengoed Whilst refurbishments take place. This same councillor voted for the closure of Daniel James school in Mynyddbach depriving the Children of a swimming, pool.This shows how the council discriminates where schools are concerned, because this school is in the ward he represents.”