MP backs fight to save Portishead pool
Woodspring MP Dr Liam Fox has asked the leaders of North Somerset Council to think again about plans to close Portishead's open-air pool.
Dr Fox, a member of the Shadow Cabinet, has written to Graham Turner, the Tory-run authority's chief executive, to voice his concerns.
His letter follows meetings with campaigners concerned about the review panel report recommending the seafront attraction close.
Campaigners, who are fighting for the pool, built in the Sixties, to be placed in the hands of a community- run trust, say the report is flawed and should be withdrawn.
Dr Fox, a senior Tory who holds the post of shadow defence secretary, said: "I think there is a strong case for North Somerset to stop and think again about this decision."
The report took five months to complete and was put together by a group of three Weston-super-Mare councillors, including deputy leader Councillor Elfan Ap Rees.
Pool supporters argue it is full of misleading and inaccurate information and is missing vital financial and visitor number details.
In his letter to Mr Turner, Dr Fox also questioned the accuracy of the report.
He said: "I have had a number of representations about the Portishead swimming pool and clearly, feelings are running very high on this issue.
"There is a feeling among those who support the retention of the pool that a decision has been made by North Somerset to close the pool irrespective of the evidence.
"They say there are factual flaws in council documents with no existing accounts to back up maintenance costs, no details of the £26,000 of electrical repairs which were carried out, and no figures included for September when, of course, the weather was the best for the whole summer.
"It is also claimed that income figures for the indoor pool in Portishead include the council subsidy, but not the income figures for the outdoor pool.
"This seems very strange to me and I wonder whether someone could confirm this claim is correct.
"It would certainly be very helpful if everybody concerned could agree on the data on which a decision will ultimately be made."
Figures obtained by the Evening Post reveal management company DC Leisure, which runs the pool on the behalf of the authority, was paid £78, 909 this year – £4,383 a week – to run the lido for the 18 week season.
DC Leisure also took 90 per cent of all the revenue generated by people swimming at the pool – £13,239 – with the authority collecting 10 per cent of the income, £1,471.
This year the pool attracted 8,802 swimmers, with the authority claiming it subsidised each swim by £14.71.
Dr Fox is also pressing the authority to look at alternatives to closure and to investigate the possibility of letting a trust run the attraction.
In the letter he asked Mr Turner, he said: "I would be interested in your views about whether there is a viable alternative to closure, either through direct funding with changes to management, or a workable proposal for a trust.
"This is clearly a local issue about both heritage and the competition for scarce resources in Portishead."
The review panel report is being scrutinised by the authority's strategic planning and economic development working group.
The group is due to give its recommendations for the pool to the executive next month.
A Save the Open Air Pool (STOP) campaign, backed by the Evening Post, has been launched to fight to save the lido from closure.
Campaigners want to set up a trust to take over the management of the pool from the local authority.
STOP leader Roger Whitfield said: "We are delighted to have the support of our MP Dr Liam Fox.
"We hope our Conservative MP will be able to bring pressure on our Conservative-led council to think again about closing this much-loved facility."
North Somerset Council leader Councillor Nigel Ashton said: "We welcome all contributions to the debate and the scrutiny panel has been given extra time to study and verify the findings of the report from the review panel into the future of the Portishead pool."
4 Comments
by gill, portishead
Tuesday, November 11 2008, 5:24PM
“Steve although I agree in part with your sentiments, I have received an email suggesting that there are whole days when it appears no one used the pool. This is either an error on admissions or the entrance figures that the council are quoting are wrong, perhaps the pool was closed due to staff shortages in which case the actual figures of attendance are better than the council would have us believe”
by Joanne, Bristol
Sunday, November 02 2008, 1:33PM
“Steve I think you're wrong. This is a very important part of so many people growing up, me included. It would be very sad to see such a lovely place forgotten and closed down. I have very fond memories of summers at the pool. Lets fight to save an important part of heritage”
by Steve, Isle of Wight (water all around)
Saturday, November 01 2008, 8:37PM
“8802 swimmers all year, that's about 25 per day, how many hours open a day? Realistically, it's not worth the money splashed ('scuse me)out on it. Presumably, one person collects the entrance fee, at least one life-saver on duty, no wonder it's losing money. It would be interesting to know how many different people constitute the 8802.”
by Richard, Old Country of Avon
Friday, October 31 2008, 7:27PM
“Well done Mr Fox.
Dear North Somerset Council like all businesses and organisations the key to success is marketing. To be honest I swam here twice as a child and enjoyed it, though it could get boring after a while as there needs to be a few more slides; but now as an adult I forgot it even exists. You need to promote this great pool to the people of Bristol. The Tropicana has been closed for years and there hasn't been a substitute... you've put this back on the map by tlking about closing it, bad news is sometimes effective advertising, now get 500,000 flyers produced for £2k and splash this around the regions in 2009.”