ANGLESEY'S public swimming pools have been given a welcome lifeline.
A county council scrutiny committee decided on Friday to put the plan to pull the plug on two of the Island’s three swimming pools to a full council vote next month.
Holyhead Town councillor Clifford Everett declared the motion to go to a full council vote on the grounds that the original decision to close the pools was not in line the with council’s constitution.
Council leader Clive McGregor said that the decision to close two pools and Beaumaris Leisure Centre was made due to cuts in local government funding .
“The party group members received financial indications and they were not good,” he said. “The council had to make a responsible decision.”
During the meeting, a number of councillors mentioned the lack of consultation with leisure centre staff before the proposals were made.
Councillor Peter Rogers claimed that hadn’t been an opportunity for staff to “fight for their jobs” and that the executive committee had “outlived its usefulness”.
Other suggestions included cuts to staff hours and wages, car park charges, “green” solutions to save on energy costs and private sector funding. Others said that spending could be cut in other council services.
Councillor Dylan Jones warned that closing the town’s pool could lead to anti-social behaviour on the Island, while others pointed out the increased travel costs for schools and parents.
Councillor William Hughes was delighted that the all the island’s councillors would have a say in the decision.
“I am very pleased, because the original decision was made by the cabinet and not by the council,” he said “Closing the pools would leave some very deprived areas with only one pool between them.”
Public reaction to the proposed closures has been fierce. Marian Williams of the Holyhead Weightlifting Club said that closing the pools would be a huge social an economic loss to Anglesey. “There will be nothing for the kids to do, so I think closing the pools could lead to trouble,” she said “People on their holidays always use the leisure centres, so it would have an affect on tourism.”
Treasurer of the Isle of Anglesey Swimming Club Chris Tanner agreed that the closures would be bad for the island: “This will have a definite effect on children’s health, and it will also cost the schools more,” he said.
“They currently share buses but if the plans go through, they will have to get separate coaches, which will cost about £130 each.”
The proposal to close Beaumaris Leisure Centre and two pools from either Holyhead, Amlwch or Llangefni was made on July 21.
More than 150 people attended a public meeting in Holyhead on Friday evening to discuss the proposals.
Local councillors, Labour MP Albert Owen and Plaid Cymru candidate Dylan Rees were also at the meeting. Mr Rees told the meeting that the council needs to improve resident’s quality of life by adding amenities, not taking them away.
A petition has been started with approximately 3,000 signatures so far.
Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones is also concerned about the effect that the closures would have on the Island.
He said: "People contacting me are concerned about the health and economic implications that any closure would have and the travelling involved to visit those leisure centres that would remain open,” he said “I have written to the council to express these concerns and I have already had one meeting with the council to discuss the matter."
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