No pool closures until new one built

Oldham council cabinet
A guarantee has been given that leisure facilities in Shaw and Crompton will not close until a replacement sports centre is built.

The assurance came as the council was accused of bias over its plans to replace Crompton Pool and Fitness Centre — known locally as Shaw Baths — and Royton Sports Centre with one venue.

And the possibility of building this on private land was also slammed as a waste of money.

The proposals are part of a shake-up of the borough’s leisure services and seven of the nine preferred locations for the new centre are in Royton, including the six top-ranked options.

The leading contender is a privately-owned site, which has not been named for commercial reasons, in Royton town centre.

Members of the public criticised the choices at last night’s cabinet meeting of ruling Labour councillors.

Joanne Lewis Ryan said that building the centre in Royton would be a massive inconvenience to people in Shaw and said: “Could the cabinet explain why commercially-owned sites that would require millions to purchase appear above sites where the council is already a landowner? How can the council justify the extra borrowing cost of building a new facility on land which is privately-owned when that money could be spent on better facilities in Shaw?”

A question asked on behalf of Todd Lewis Ryan added: “The appraisal of sites is favoured and biased towards Royton. Seven out of nine are in Royton and only two in Shaw and Crompton.

“How can this be an equal process when there are more suitable sites in Shaw and Crompton which have not been seriously considered and appraised?”

But Councillor Hugh McDonald cabinet member for leisure, said that there was always going to be winners and losers.

He said that the review of the borough’s leisure services had been started by the previous Liberal Democrat/Conservative administration and added: “A long list of sites in Royton and Shaw were considered, of which seven were in Royton, six were in Shaw, plus Royton and Crompton School in between the two areas.”

Councillor McDonald explained that these had been assessed rigorously and objectively against a list of criteria including income potential and the cost of the land being in private ownership.

He added: “The outcome of the site appraisal is clear with the three top sites being in Royton town centre. and gives an exciting opportunity for the leisure centre to be part of the whole regeneration of Royton town centre.”

There were also concerns at a report stating that under-performing facilities and those earmarked for closure could be shut before new ones are opened to save money.

But Councillor McDonald said: “Councillors would be unlikely to support this option and would require officers to find other ways of making the proposals more affordable.

“I reiterate quite clearly that the new facilities would be open before the old ones are closed.”