PLANS have been finalised to safeguard Anglesey’s under-threat swimming pools.
A meeting of Anglesey Council’s executive committee on Tuesday agreed to a £300,000 reduction in leisure services revenue budget over the next three years.
However, the future of the Island’s three swimming pools and Canolfan Beaumaris have been safeguarded for the time being through reduced opening hours and management job cuts.
Council leader councillor Clive McGregor accepted that the executive had made a mistake when it proposed to close two of the pools at Llangefni, Amlwch and Holyhead, and to close Beaurmaris leisure centre.
He added: “We learnt from our mistakes and have done everything in our power to safeguard the provision of leisure services for the people of Anglesey, despite having to face the significant task of reducing the leisure revenue budget by more than 16 per cent.”
A task and finish group, established a year ago, proposed that savings would come from cutting upper management jobs and reducing the council’s sports development and parks and outdoor facilities budgets.
Leisure portfolio holder Councillor Bob Parry presented the group’s findings to the executive.
He said: “We recognise, of course, that these reductions in revenue won’t address the improvements needed to improve the Amlwch, Llangefni and Holyhead leisure centre buildings.
“As a result, the task and finish group also wants to see a joint leisure and property strategy completed within the next financial year place, which go further towards addressing the future of the Island’s indoor leisure facilities.”
The executive also reaffirmed its intention to transfer Beaumaris leisure centre to the town council or social enterprise, and will seek expressions of interest as soon as possible.