York Liberal Democrats

Labour Swimming Pool Motion

I haven't felt this in demand since I was dragged back on stage for a second encore at

Hammersmith Palais … You will notice that our amendment keeps some of the words

in the original motion. It is true that 'The City of York has two rivers and a number of

watercourses …' After that, I am sad to say, the motion slips sadly into a morass of

error, half-truth, and convenient amnesia.'

We could spend hours rehearsing how we got here.

We could look at the creation of the Barbican centre and its pool, and whether proper

funding was ever put in place to run and maintain the facilities.

We could explore why a then Labour administration decided to sell the facilities, and

the part played by Lib Dem and Tory councillors in the development of those plans.

We could move forward to 2003 and consider the fact that all the city's swimming

pools were in disrepair and that Labour had planned to close Yearsley pool as well as

selling the Barbican site. We could debate the wisdom of the incoming Lib Dem

administration decision to try to raise more money from the Barbican site, in order to

fund the repair of the city's other pools, and whether that decision took the lid off a

can of worms that would better have be left alone.

We could discuss the long and pointless protest that scuppered plans for a

replacement community pool on the Barbican site, orchestrated by a group led by a

man who was the Labour party candidate for Fishergate ward, a candidate roundly

rejected by the electorate as soon as they were given the chance.

But I would rather discuss where are we now and how we move forwards.

Back to the motion … First of all, there are not two but three public swimming pools

in York: Edmund Wilson, Yearsley and Waterworld. These provide 18 swimming

lanes and not 12. There are a further 19 lanes available in the five pools that provide

community access through swimming clubs and swimming lessons.

A further 10 pools in the city provide another 29 lanes. These are not public pools,

you cry, but their presence impacts on all calculations as to the economic viability of

creating further swimming provision in York, because all pools have to find users.

The Lib Dems revamped Yearsley pool instead of closing it, saving 8 lanes of

swimming and improving energy efficiency, resulting in savings of more than £30K

this year. We are currently on schedule to complete the new pool on the York High

site this autumn. This public pool will also be energy efficient, reducing CO2

emissions by over 70% compared with the aging Edmund Wilson pool it replaces.

I use the council's pools and fitness suites. I used them at the Barbican and now at

Edmund Wilson. I confess I haven't ever seen another city councillor at any of these

facilities, except in media photo opportunities. Where do you go swimming, Cllr.

Scott? My children have all learned to swim in the council run facilities and I have

nothing but praise for the quality of training offered.

Regretfully, except when late afternoon swimming lessons are taking place, the

swimming lanes are never too busy. That is why we have signed up to the

government's proposal to offer free swimming to both under 16's and over 60s,

calculating that even though the scheme isn't fully funded we will find the money to

try to encourage more people to take exercise and live healthier, lives.

The sports strategy remains exactly as agreed back in October 2007. The problems

with the auditorium have had no impact on the number or rivers or swimming lanes.

The strategy makes no specific commitment to any city centre pool. A proportion of

the Barbican activity has been successfully relocated to All Saints. This is selfsupporting

and attracts around 700 users per month.

Am I happy that everything is progressing to plan with the university pool? No. I am

concerned at the time the university is taking. Are we complacent? No. I and senior

management at the council, right up to the chief executive, have been meeting with

our counterparts at the university to move things along. We are all aware of funding

gap and officers are actively helping the university identify possible funding sources,

but it is the university, ultimately, who must address the funding gap.

Is it a planning condition that Campus Three will deliver a new pool. How can we be

sure that this will provide public access? Two reasons:

1 - the university have signed an agreement to that effect, and

2 - any pool they build will have the same pressure to limit its operating losses. In

short, they need the public to make the project viable.

Many of us on Main Planning have raised concerns about the university expansion; on

issues such as environmental sustainability. This council needs to continue to be firm

and clear about what the city expects of the expansion, including the provision of a

public pool. I acknowledge the constructive role played by councillors of all parties

who have sat on the University Swimming Pool Steering Group.

Cllr Scott - if you want a dramatic turn around in swimming provision in this city, talk

with your government and the current MP for York. There are more 50 meter pools in

Paris than in the whole of the UK. It is at national government level that the real

decisions are taken about the value we place on sport and swimming in this country.

If you nail the funding, I'm sure we'll quickly find a home for a pool.

I move the amendment.