PROPOSALS to save Swansea Tennis Centre were rejected by cabinet members as the new Lib Dem budget was passed on Monday.

The five-hour-plus extraordinary council meeting saw a number of amendments put forward by the council's opposition leaders in a bid to keep the centre afloat.

But each proposition fell as the budget, which had already been approved in its draft form, powered through with votes from the Lib Dems and Independents.

The centre is being closed to save the council around £50,000 this year alone.

At the decision to close, angry spectators in the public gallery shouted.

But Lib Dem Coun Stuart Rice said that if a solution could be sought to keep the centre running at no cost to the council then that would be supported.

Urging cabinet members to pass the proposed budget, he said the council had "hard choices to make".

Amendments put forward by the Labour party included the funding of the teachers' pay settlement, and reversing the charge for musical instruments and the cut in weekly black bag collection.

Labour leader David Phillips, said: "There is no doubt Swansea Council is in deep financial trouble with nearly all services facing drastic cut-backs.

"But this is not the fault of the Assembly, which has provided more than £5 million extra. This desperate situation is the result of your administration's borrow and spend plans, where you have placed vanity projects over the needs of ordinary people for essential services."

He said the council's £17 million financial black hole will grow over the next three to four years to £53 million.

Councillor Phillips also asked council leader Chris Holley and his cabinet to forego their annual cash increase and use the money to save the tennis centre. But the amendment was withdrawn on the basis the increases had not yet been officially confirmed.

The Conservatives proposed cash could be saved in ceasing the supply of black bin bags and in the introduction of residents' parking charges. They also moved that contributions to Swansea Futures be stopped.

Tory leader Rene Kinzett put forward a second amendment for the transitional funding of the tennis centre trust at the cost of £125,000. He said: "I think it's right the tennis centre should be retained for a proper period of time — for a proper proposal to be brought forward."

He also proposed the council tax rise be reduced from the now approved 4.35 per cent for Band D, to 3.35 per cent.

Speaking after the meeting, Councillor David Phillips, said: "The hollowness of the claims of the so-called Independents to independence was demonstrated, as they all voted for this regressive and reactionary budget."

Councillor Kinzett told the Post: "Our Conservative motion to save the tennis centre was rejected out of hand."

He suggested imposing staff car parking charges at the city's County Hall.

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