Wycombe pool business plan turned down by council (From Bucks Free Press)
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Wycombe pool business plan turned down by council
12:50pm Monday 17th August 2009 in
A BUSINESS plan drawn up by campaigners fighting to save a treasured High Wycombe swimming pool has been rejected by Wycombe District Council.
Council leader Lesley Clarke has written to members of the Holywell Mead Steering Group to tell them their “ambitious” plans had been rejected.
The decision leaves the future of the pool in The Rye, which was closed as a money-saving measure by councillors in February, in jeopardy.
The business plan proposed measures including opening the pool all-year-round and fitting a telescopic roof, as well as getting water sports groups to use the pool more regularly.
However, Cllr Clarke cites a “lack of apparent consideration of health and safety requirements” as a “serious concern” for the council.
Other factors cited in her response included underestimating the cost and number of staff needed, an over-reliance on volunteers, not including operator costs and a simplified demand and usage model.
She added: “Despite further questioning about specific elements of the business plan, the group were unfortunately unable to provide satisfactory responses which would have gone some way to alleviating the council's concerns.
“It is disappointing the council is unable to support the progression of this plan, but the group's offer to continue as a support group that would take an active interest in the future of Holywell Mead is most welcome.”
Neil Bailey, the chairman of the steering group, said the group had researched the plan by looking at successful models from other working lidos, including one at Hampton.
He said: “We could not get costs from a pool operator because the council had not jut handed over the keys to us and say go and get a company to run it.
“We have also had hundreds of offers of help from members of the public and looking at the most successful pools around the country it's clear they rely on a lot of volunteers.”
He added the group were happy to keep supporting the pool, but warned there must be changes if it is to reopen.
He said: “We see the council's comments as an invitation to keep talking to them. Our aim is still to get the pool reopened. We believe a valuable community asset as been lost.
“We still hope to save the pool, but it probably won't be in the way originally proposed.
“While we are happy to be a support group raising funds for the pool it needs to be sustainable in the long term.
“The way the pool operated before it was quite apparent the opening time was too short and more needed to be done with the marketing at the very least.”
Mr Bailey added the group would keep pushing for the pool to be reopened by next summer.
“If it stays mothballed for much longer the cost of refurbishment in preparation for reopening would be prohibitive,” he said.
“We started this because the council had closed the pool and did not want anything to do with it. We raised the profile of it so much they started to talk to us about keeping it open.”
The steering group are set to meet tomorrow to discuss the future of the pool.
Comments(27)
Plus ça change...
says...
2:11pm Mon 17 Aug 09
We should use this opportunity to better present the history of Wycombe, its Roman Villa and the Holy Well this pool took its name from.
Whatever minimal vestiges there may be of Wycombe's historic past should be identified, preserved and displayed.
s/w:
ad-nauseam...
Voyeur
says...
2:27pm Mon 17 Aug 09
time to go clarke
says...
2:52pm Mon 17 Aug 09
This is disgusting you should resign along with all your Tory cronies whoi voted to close it !!
Let us have our open air pool back
Hit me
says...
3:31pm Mon 17 Aug 09
....its a headline that could run every week, as, every week I think they can only get better but every week they amaze me with something worse.
Losers.
demoness
says...
4:09pm Mon 17 Aug 09
I flipping knew it although it pains me to be right! What is the betting a sports and leisure company will now come along and develop the land.....
I would put money on it!
And what is the betting that all comments will now be removed from this story as it always happens when the integrity of this council is questioned!
yog
says...
5:07pm Mon 17 Aug 09
Slacker
says...
5:53pm Mon 17 Aug 09
J B Blackett
says...
6:43pm Mon 17 Aug 09
.
But the WDC witless council members are incapable of thinking beyond the next blink of their digital watches.
.
Pathetic , I call it.
demoness
says...
7:28pm Mon 17 Aug 09
J B Blackett wrote:I am also with the above but lets face it, that land ( as well as the Bassetsbury allotments) has been reserved for something...
I'm with you , Pcc and Slacker. . But the WDC witless council members are incapable of thinking beyond the next blink of their digital watches. . Pathetic , I call it.
demoness
says...
7:28pm Mon 17 Aug 09
J B Blackett wrote:I am also with the above but lets face it, that land ( as well as the Bassetsbury allotments) has been reserved for something...
I'm with you , Pcc and Slacker. . But the WDC witless council members are incapable of thinking beyond the next blink of their digital watches. . Pathetic , I call it.
J B Blackett
says...
9:35pm Mon 17 Aug 09
demoness wrote:In that case, d, I hope it isn't to build a load of FLATS, FLATS and more FLATS ; not greatly needed affordable nicely-sized Family Homes with a bit of space to breathe around them. We don't want Blocks of one bed-roomed FLATS to become the current obsessive preoccupation with this ('We Are Here To Serve YOU') pecuLiar old council, do we ?
J B Blackett wrote:I am also with the above but lets face it, that land ( as well as the Bassetsbury allotments) has been reserved for something...
I'm with you , Pcc and Slacker. . But the WDC witless council members are incapable of thinking beyond the next blink of their digital watches. . Pathetic , I call it.
.
I am absolutely sure that there are absolutely No councillors with a Vested Interest in having loads of FLATS built on this sacred land near the River. Just as there absolutely not anywhere else in the District. Fancy that ! building blocks of FLATS on the banks of the sacred local River Wye. It doesn't bear thinking about , does it ? Absolutely !
.
If that is true , we have nothing to worry about. We really should be eternally grateful, as tax payers, residents and those interested in local facilities and the environment , to be firmly clasped in such Safe Hands, don't you think ?
.
We await future developments and announcements with eager anticipation and great expectations.
.
Regards
time to go clarke
says...
9:38pm Mon 17 Aug 09
demoness wrote:Hi Demoness
HA!!!!! I flipping knew it although it pains me to be right! What is the betting a sports and leisure company will now come along and develop the land..... I would put money on it! And what is the betting that all comments will now be removed from this story as it always happens when the integrity of this council is questioned!
The pool group are hard working local people prepared to give their time freely and they care passionatelly about Wycombe and the pool
WDC have no integrity.
Cllr Clarke and her Tory cronies dont care about Wycombe --they are dismantling and selling off all all our Towns assets !!!
chris740
says...
10:24pm Mon 17 Aug 09
cross there hand with silver.
and you will get what you want.
lidopraiser
says...
12:45am Tue 18 Aug 09
Plus ça change...
says...
8:13am Tue 18 Aug 09
It's right we should have the modern facilities of other towns.
We are a successful area of the country.
Right too that we should have modern leisure facilities. The best. Why not! I like splashing about in water too.
So did the Romans!
But there are bits missing in my picture of Wycombe and particularly its past.
Some of that may well stem from my own ignorance.
This knowledge would be boosted significantly by having some substantial focal points displaying Wycombe's distant past and origins.
I would stand in awe in front of what little may remain of a Wycombe Roman villa...
There is nothing in Wycombe that would compare with that.
ferrellcat
says...
8:25am Tue 18 Aug 09
yog
says...
8:59am Tue 18 Aug 09
demoness
says...
10:57am Tue 18 Aug 09
Plus ça change... wrote:I would absolutely love to see the Roman Villa excavated.
I love the idea of a modern and modernising Wycombe. It's right we should have the modern facilities of other towns. We are a successful area of the country. Right too that we should have modern leisure facilities. The best. Why not! I like splashing about in water too. So did the Romans! But there are bits missing in my picture of Wycombe and particularly its past. Some of that may well stem from my own ignorance. This knowledge would be boosted significantly by having some substantial focal points displaying Wycombe's distant past and origins. I would stand in awe in front of what little may remain of a Wycombe Roman villa... There is nothing in Wycombe that would compare with that.
if the council put some of the money from the very silly traveller project ( 17K) and invested in the environment centre so it did not have to close, and got that villa unearthed, we really could have a fantastic historical site to visit.
But no - they have got other plans which I am sure will become evident to us all in time.
The DJ
says...
2:00pm Tue 18 Aug 09
Wa***** Don't Care!
Curlycurly
says...
4:14pm Tue 18 Aug 09
J B Blackett
says...
7:52pm Tue 18 Aug 09
demoness wrote:What a great idea ! Our own (holiday ?) villa on the Rye ; possibly Rye smiles all round would then be in order.
Plus ça change... wrote:I would absolutely love to see the Roman Villa excavated.
I love the idea of a modern and modernising Wycombe. It's right we should have the modern facilities of other towns. We are a successful area of the country. Right too that we should have modern leisure facilities. The best. Why not! I like splashing about in water too. So did the Romans! But there are bits missing in my picture of Wycombe and particularly its past. Some of that may well stem from my own ignorance. This knowledge would be boosted significantly by having some substantial focal points displaying Wycombe's distant past and origins. I would stand in awe in front of what little may remain of a Wycombe Roman villa... There is nothing in Wycombe that would compare with that.
if the council put some of the money from the very silly traveller project ( 17K) and invested in the environment centre so it did not have to close, and got that villa unearthed, we really could have a fantastic historical site to visit.
But no - they have got other plans which I am sure will become evident to us all in time.
.
Guard that gateway with courage, as we Roman citizens used to say
.
'Fortiter occupa portum' - sorry just showing off the little GCSE Latin I can remember.
.
I'm afraid with such cultural deadheaded and Flat-building obsessed councillors that we've got in control of Wycombe , the villa and the history of the area is a lost cause as the moment.
.
Still Hope springs eternal . Up the Villa.
,
time to go clarke
says...
10:17pm Tue 18 Aug 09
Try "had enough of clarke" as a name ??
bakerbill
says...
3:08pm Wed 19 Aug 09
http://www.oxford.go
v.uk/leisure/hinksey
-swimming-pool.cfm
openairswimmer
says...
11:24am Sun 23 Aug 09
Open-air pools have historically been poorly managed, summer only, seasonal facilities, and being season they have no full time staff to take a pride in the operation.
At Hampton we actively manage our facilities, listen to our clients to create new activities, new facilities and business opportunities. We have extended opening hours- 6am until 9pm to cater for commuters who can swim before or after work, swimming lessons for children after school hours, swimming lessons for adults in mornings, evenings and weekends, along with a range of swimming and gym/studio based activities throughout the day and a successful shop and café.
I have seen no “lack of apparent consideration of health and safety requirements” in the business plan. I would regard the document to be a working document and if the council did have concerns this would be an area for positive discussion.
Regarding politics.. It is bad for any political party to close a much treasured community facility. All parties should support this initiative to re-open Holywell Mead Pool and work with the Steering Group to ensure its success.
As chairman of the Hampton Pool Trust I invite Councillor Lesley Clarke and her fellow councillors to Hampton Pool to see how an open-air pool can be successful and how Holywell Mead Pool could become a much cherished and successful resource in High Wycombe.
Hampton Pool is owned by the Hampton Pool Trust
Hampton Pool is managed by the KWYMCA which is a charity and a not for profit organisation.
Grahame Hadden
Hampton Pool Trust
www.hamptonpool.co.u
k
towncryer
says...
1:16pm Mon 24 Aug 09
Holywell Mead pool, could also have it right
Cllr Clarke needs to be working with Holywell Mead Pool Group not dismissing them
Remember Cllr Clark these residents vote you and your council in!!!
They can vote you out just as easy !!!
TheInsider
says...
10:52am Sat 29 Aug 09
Citing health and safety as a reason to reject a business plan demonstrates a failure by the council to provide a more substantial reason and even more shameful, why not offer help and support. I thought that was the ethos of the Tory party.
Unfortunately, many councils across the UK, are dominated by a type of older, unfit people who have little interest in health and fitness (as you see when you meet them).
Therefore, saving such a vital resource is a low priority as they have no personal interest in health and fitness despite the glaring fact that the nation's young generation is in a health crisis and these councillors actions over the last few decades have contributed to this situation whether it be the sale of school playing fields, charging to use leisure centre car parks, or closing down facilities.
For Britain to turn around its fortunes, to get fit, economically and health wise, we need, vibrant, fit and enthusiastic councillors (of all ages)and people such as these pool campaigners who look forward and not back and support an enterprise as this one being offered.
Perhaps the BFP would like to ask each councillor's weight, height and BMI, how often they exercise and how.
Once the newspaper has secured this information, the readers can decide whether the elected members are in a position to make such a decision on the residents' health facilities.
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parcelman says...
1:18pm Mon 17 Aug 09