POLITICIANS TEAM UP TO FIGHT POOL CLOSURES

Angela Murphy • Published 8 Jul 2009 12:57 12 Comments

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CONTROVERSIAL plans to shut two swimming pools in Renfrewshire have provoked a passionate campaign.

Last week, the Gazette spoke to angry local people who are up in arms at plans to close the doors of Johnstone and Elderslie swimming pools.

The SNP/LibDem administration are investing £92 million pounds to try and regenerate schools and leisure facilities in the county, but the Labour group say "not at our pools" expense."

Local politicans protested outside the Ludovic Square Johnstone pool to demonstrate their backing of the campaign against the closures.

Douglas Alexander MP said: 'I"ll be standing up for Johnstone town centre swimming pool. Like many local residents, I know from my own experience that it"s a valuable local facility for the community. These savage cuts by the SNP show that only Labour is prepared to stand up for Johnstone.'

Johnstone resident and Labour Leader, Councillor Iain McMillan blasted: 'It is now two weeks after the council announced the decision and not one person in Johnstone has come forward and said it is a good idea.

'The only thing I hear is "What is the council doing to Johnstone"?

'The pool and the gym are well used and well loved.

'I was swimming at 5.30pm the other night and there were at least 20 other people in the pool - so where is the council getting their figures from?

'Far from eight to 10 people an hour - both pools are extremely popular, and not just with swimmers.

'The Johnstone pool is used for gala days which bring people and money into our town.

'We welcome an investment into Renfrewshire, but not at our pools" expense.'

Councillor Neil Bibby added: 'We have three years to save our local pool and we as community can save it.

'This campaign will be the biggest and longest the SNP Council has ever seen.'

Depute Provost Councillor Brian Lawson responded: 'I agree that the two pools are run down.

'But it is strange to want to turn down such a huge investment in Johnstone.

'If we were to refurbish Johnstone swimming pool, it would cost over a million pounds and would be closed for up to 18 months.

'We are offering a superb new facility that is actually more convenient to the majority of residents with no loss of services.'

This article appeared in The Gazette 08 Jul 09

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

Ricky
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Jul 8, 17:52
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I'v read the full palns for Johnstone and Renfrewshire as a whole and I think that plans are good.

I don't see a problem with the swiming pools in Johnstone and Elderslie closing.

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Carol
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Jul 9, 12:57
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I've yet to read these proposals but if they are based on declining demand and therefore usage rates, then I'm afraid this just does not wash with me. As is so common nowadays, here we have a SNP/LibDem govt completing contradicting their welfare ideologies. Equity consideratins in access should be paramount in the provision and delivery of public services. Let's disregard families and instead all pile in to our cars (if you are lucky enough to have access to one - if not, forget going swimming) and drive our obese children to the pool. A world leading climate change bill on greenhouse gas emissions - the SNP obviously don't have the expertise or understanding to realise the contradiction inherent in their own policies.

What level of access are we going to have? Leisure opps in the town of Johnstone is already poor with little facilities for any social group so with an obesity epidemic, they appear to be ignoring the importance of 'locality' for access by all people. People will use services MORE if they are within 10-20 mins walk from their neighbourhood: usage declines with distance. These pools are central - giving the optimal equity in access to everybody.

This will be fight based on equity in access and I look forward to it.

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Ricky
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Jul 9, 21:13
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£92 million will be spent on education and leisure facilities in Renfrewshire.

Linwood is to get its first swimming pool and neighbouring Johnstone High School will also get a pool as part of a £24 million plan.

But pools at Elderslie and Johnstone would close.

Renfrewshire Council will also spend £33 million on a new Park Mains High School, at Erskine and Renfrew's school buildings will also get a £16 million boost.

In Paisley, £7 million would be spent on developing a community sports hub at the Lagoon leisure centre.

And there are plans for a £250,000 investment in Renfrew Victory Baths and a £500,000 investment on Erskine Pool in a bid to extend the life of both.

Day services for adults with learning difficulties currently based at Maxwellton, Paisley, and at Greensyde, Linwood, closed and integrated into the Lagoon and Linwood sports developments.

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william
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Jul 14, 00:50
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I think it is a pure and utter discrace that the pool in johnstone is closing then have the local people travel further to have a swim?

I grew up in johnstone also the staff at that pool taught me to swim it should be kept open pure and simple well done labour fight and keep fighting don't let them do this to the pool

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Unregistered User
Jul 15, 20:46
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Why don't you seem to be open to looking at the what the plans are, thinks move on and things change.

Just up the road you'll have new and better facilities, I think it's worth the change.

Look at how many people use Linwood sports centre, that's not exactly on a High Street - New pool will be nest to a school and on a major road, what's the problem?

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Ann
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Jul 18, 14:35
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My problem with the proposals is that at present my daughter (10) can walk across a road with a pedestrian crossing by herself and meet her friends to go swimming. Move the pool to Johnstone High School and there is no way this is possible. The SNP council state that the new facility is more convenient to the majority of people - well it is certainly not more convenient to me and the many other families in the town centre. There is supposed to be a big push on health and fitness, yet instead of walking to a pool where she can spend a couple of hours swimming, my daughter will now need to be driven to the pool, where I will have to wait for her, so cutting down her time in the pool as how many people have 2-3 hours to sit around. And no - I would not consider leaving her and coming back at this distance. I am sickened by the whole SNP administration and their claims to have done lots of wonderful things - yes there has been no increase in council tax for two years which is front page news - why does the same coverage not get given to the huge increase in charges to pensioners for their Alert alarms, for their attendance at day centres (assuming they can find one that has not been closed and squeezed into an already full facility).

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carolyn
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Jul 20, 14:49
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have you seen how much it costs to go swimming in johnstone its a total rip off and there are always hairballs in the bottom of the pool...the lockers dont all work and the changing rooms are disgusting. my self and partner used to go every day with a monthly pass but one month it just went up to 30 pounds each a month and no leisure card discount...refurbish it and make it worth our while to take up swimming again.

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glen
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Jul 21, 15:42
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I visited Johnstone pool a few days ago – There were only at few adults in the pool. No wonder it's really poor. As for the gym .. yuck

The whole place is in a in a very poor condition with few modern facilities.

I see even Labour's Council group leader has agreed that both the Elderslie and Johnstone pools are ‘run down'. Labour have failed to invest in the pool for decades – that is why they are run down !

Even to patch up the old pools to keep them in use for a few more years would cost over £1,000,000 each (money down the drain) and they would have to close while the work is going on.

The Elderslie and Johnstone pools will be replaced by new state of the art pools.

The old pools will remain open until the new ones are complete.

There will be no loss of service. WIN WIN for everyone !

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Karen
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Jul 25, 11:37
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I have to drive to Johnstone pool anyway so driving to the high school won't make much difference, however what will make a difference is that I usually combine going to the pool with popping into the local shops, if I have to drive and park again I probably won't bother so I do think it will affect business for local shops.

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Guest
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Jul 29, 14:49
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Can someone please tell me what Renfrewshire Council are thinking of - not only with the swimming pool issues but with the whole of the Johnstone and Paisley area which include -leisure, shopping, transportation and road management - who is being paid the big bucks for this one

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Derek McGuire
Unregistered User
Jul 30, 09:13
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I think they're thinking about improving sports facilities by investing £92million! Let's face it the biigest draw for both Elderslie and Johnstone pools are that they are always empty - but thats the problem, not enough people use them. The council is simply trying to make sure they get maximum value for their investment, ie the johnstone high pool will be shared between school use and public use -meaning it doesn't lie empty for hours on end.

I think the whole plan is an excellent idea. If even half of those who are complaining used either pool even just once a week then they wouldn't have been targeted for closure.

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Neil Williams
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Jul 31, 11:59
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Although its a shame about facilities closing the council has a duty of best value - it has to spend its money where it can be best used. The point made by the second poster (Carol) about facilities are better used if within 10-20 min walk of residents doesn't hold true. The problem seems to be not enough people use the facilities. Also is she was correct we would have dozens of pools etc all across renfrewshire.

These pools are tired, underused and suffering from decades of neglect. I agree with the council - put money into modern, shared use facilities. This is simply a case of people not liking change.

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