Johnstone and Elderslie Pools Campaign

[broomhillsaved]

Back in August the threat to swimming pools in Johnstone and Elderslie was featured on the "Swimming Pools closed or under threat in 2009" thread (message 113)
http://www.swimclub.co.uk/forum/show...&postcount=113


The fight continues, as Renfrewshire Council insists it knows best: their £92 million scheme does not appear to take any notice of what local people really want.

http://www.paisleydailyexpress.co.uk...7085-25180443/

and "Pool protest will attract hundreds": Paisley Daily Express (November 16th 2009)
http://www.paisleydailyexpress.co.uk...7085-25162952/

[broomhillsaved]

This was the Evening Times coverage back in August (2009):-

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/d...bout_pools.php

[broomhillsaved]

Campaign website here: http://www.jess-campaign.org.uk/


Go-Petition here:

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/jess-campaign.html

[Wildswimmer]

Are Renfrewshire also candidates this month?

Wildswimmer Pete

[broomhillsaved]

Originally Posted by Wildswimmer

Are Renfrewshire also candidates this month?

Wildswimmer Pete

I haven't yet nominated them Pete, because I wanted to do further research on the details:- out of £92 million you would think there was the funds to refurbish the existing pools, especially as the consultants on this project will probably be earning millions themselves.

I e-mailed the JESS Campaign webmaster today and will see what sort of support they would like.

You can read their October newsletter here: (PDF file)
http://www.jess-campaign.org.uk/newsletters.htmL

The main objection I think is that the plan is imposed from above in an indigestible package: it's all been decided from the strategic review which pushes through the "community hub" idea. To the council it's a neat idea, but it doesn't take into account the question of access to these new centres, the difficulties faced by those without private transport or the role that the existing pools play in their communities. As ever, people appreciate and value their local, easily accessible community pool: it doesn't matter how new and shiny the new pool may be: if you can't easily access it then it's out of reach.

http://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/ilwwc...sSportsLeisure

The community hub idea seems very similar to Sport England's "fewer but better" approach to pools: Strategic Leisure caused a storm of protest in Bradford, for example, by recommending the closure of four pools, with just one central pool to replace them. It would be nice to see some genuine consultation for a change or a willingness to let people keep the older facilities. The money spent on consultants advising councils to close pools would often have been enough to save the pools! (eg Wirral Council forked out over £100,000 for their strategic review)

[broomhillsaved]

This is a previous article on the campaign: October 7th 2009

http://www.paisleydailyexpress.co.uk...7085-24866242/

[Wildswimmer]

Originally Posted by broomhillsaved

Strategic Leisure caused a storm of protest in Bradford, for example, by recommending the closure of four pools, with just one central pool to replace them. It would be nice to see some genuine consultation for a change or a willingness to let people keep the older facilities. The money spent on consultants advising councils to close pools would often have been enough to save the pools! (eg Wirral Council forked out over £100,000 for their strategic review)

It's about time Strategic Leisure were given the (preferably steel toecapped) boot. Don't these so-called "consultants" realise that many who want to use their local pool can't/won't drive? Children, the unemployed, the elderly? Pools need to be within walking/cycling distance of the communities they serve, especially as public transport is now so expensive and often unreliable.

I'm sure Strategic Leisure and their ilk want swimming to become a solely elite sport safely out of reach of the great unwashed.

Wildswimmer Pete

[broomhillsaved]

A pool based in a school is a very different proposition to a pool that's fully public; there could be all sorts of restrictions on how available the new pool will be. The Johnstone High School is not an easy walking distance from the Johnstone town centre apparently and public transport links are geared more towards school times.

The trouble is that the decision makers always have their own transport, subsidised travel (through expenses), the latest technology etc but they are delivering a service to people who don't always have these advantages. It's so easy to push through this idealized "one-stop" community hub idea without being willing to listen and take notice of the communities themselves. The residents of Johnstone and Elderslie are trying to tell them that "one-stop" is "no-stop" for many of them.

(This seems horribly similar to Sedgemoor District Council's claim back in August that they are concerned about swimming provision in Bridgwater and are therefore going to close the Sedgemoor Splash and build (eventually) a new pool right out at Chilton Trinity school as part of the Building Schools for the Future scheme.)

[broomhillsaved]

September 2009 article from the Gazette:-

http://www.the-gazette.co.uk/news/vi...kill-our-town/

The comments on this article are particularly good and highlight the fact that two six lane town centre pools will basically be replaced by one four-lane school pool.

Unsurprisingly there are no bus links between Elderslie and Johnstone High School (which is where the new pool would be situated)

[broomhillsaved]

Scottish Socialist Party opposing the proposed pool closures
(27th June 2009)

http://ssprenfrewshire.blogspot.com/...links-and.html

[broomhillsaved]

And Facebook campaign to save the pools:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=100045036618

[broomhillsaved]

Elderslie Leisure Centre:
http://www.renfrewshireleisure.com/c...slie.asp<br />

"Visit Renfrewshire" highlights the Elderslie Pool as one of its assets!
http://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/ilwwc...enfrewshire%29


The current Johnstone Swimming Pool:
http://www.renfrewshireleisure.com/centre/johnstone.asp

[broomhillsaved]

Support from Douglas Alexander for the pool campaign:-


http://www.douglasalexander.org.uk/save-our-pool

[broomhillsaved]

Johnstone Community Council

Extract from Minutes of June 25th 2009 meeting

The subject of Renfrewshire Council’s Investing in Infrastructure report was raised. This puts forward a plan to close down Johnstone and Elderslie swimming pools and replace them with a Sports Hub at Johnstone High School costing £6.3million which will provide a 25m pool, dance studio, fitness suite and all-weather pitch. Further plans would see the site of the current pool used to provide a new Town Hall, Library and Registry Office with Marriage Suite.

DL reported that his Residents Association had unanimously objected to these plans which it was felt would be a diminution of facilities. The facilities at the School would only be available to the public outwith school hours and many people would be reluctant to travel out to Beith Road in the evenings.

Cllr McF reported that the current pools were little used during daytime hours and that both pools were in very poor condition. The town centre site was not big enough to allow increased facilities to be built.

EC asked if the new pool would be able to stage competitive matches.

Cllr McF replied that it could and noted that sports and swimming groups have backed the proposals.

Cllr Hood stated that public consultation should be held on the proposals.

DL asked why the Johnstone pool could not be rebuilt.

Cllr McF reported that such a rebuild had been costed at 31million and was not felt to be best value.

GK stated that many people have concerns about the loss to the town centre and that more should be done in the town centre for children.That a new civic centre development should include a games hall and not simply provide council offices.

Cllr Bibby stated that it was interesting to gauge the views being put forward and pointed out that there was as yet no money identified for the buildings suggested to replace the pool. (My italics)

EF concluded the discussions and noted that we were assured that there will be consultation over the proposals.

[broomhillsaved]

PMP Genesis website:

http://www.pmpgenesis.com/case-studi...re?page=0&sk=b