Sykes wades in over pools plan

CONSULTATION on Oldham’s new leisure shake-up has been slammed as a sham.

Opposition leader councillor Howard Sykes claimed the current Labour administration has already decided what it plans to do.

And the Liberal Democrat leader and Shaw councillor said the plans would see his district miss out.

Councillor Sykes said: “The so called consultation is a sham in my opinion.

“It has decided what it is going to do.

“I challenge Labour to listen to the people, and I look forward to being proved wrong, if it does.

“What I have concerns about is whether this will be an authentic and genuine listening exercise by the Labour council.”

He said that the public would want Crompton Pool, which Labour is planning to close, revamped.

“The last time Labour tried to close Crompton Pool there was outrage in the community and I am confident there will be the same reaction, and rightly so, this time.”

The borough-wide proposals include revamping Oldham Sports Centre and replacing Crompton Pool and Royton Sports Centre with a new pool and gym in Royton.

Leisure facilities in the borough are currently run by Oldham Community Leisure (OCL) on behalf of the council but the contract ends in 2013.

The proposals, drawn up with advice from Sport England, aim to develop exciting facilities for community use, to improve residents’ health and wellbeing, and to help the regeneration of Oldham and Royton centres.

However, Councillor Sykes said the plans showed no loss of facilities in other parts of the borough, including Failsworth and Chadderton, but Royton was being favoured over Shaw once again.

He said: “Facilities in Chadderton, Saddleworth and elsewhere have been renewed in recent years, which was supposed to be part of a programme.

“Now it gets to Crompton Pool’s turn and the proposal is just to axe it.

“We have just lost our civic recycling site in Shaw, the closure of the swimming pool and gym would be the removal of yet another key service.

“People need to respond to this consultation and say loud and clear that what is proposed isn’t good enough by far.”

Oldham Council has started consultation on the proposals, and the final plans will return to Cabinet in December.

An interactive map of the plans is available on the Oldham Council website.