Holywell Mead survey says residents 'want cafe and pool' (From Bucks Free Press)
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Holywell Mead survey says residents 'want cafe and pool'
10:21am Tuesday 6th April 2010 in
RESIDENTS have told Wycombe District Council they want a swimming pool and cafe at the derelict Holywell Mead swimming pool site – in a report released by the council.
The 68-page report details the findings of a six week public consultation, carried out between December and January, into the future of the disused Holywell Mead pool.
WDC closed The Rye-based outdoor pool last year as part of a money saving exercise. The council also withdrew funding from the adjoining-Environment Centre, which closed last month.
Almost 2000 residents responded to the survey, with a 'mixture of facilities' on the site, including a café, gym and an 'outdoor water play area' the most popular answers.
But 20 per cent of all those quizzed wrote in the top preferences section of the form that they would like an 'undefined swimming pool' at The Rye.
Residents hit out at the council at a public meeting in January after it choose not to make an outdoor swimming pool an option on the multiple choice section of the paper.
They said the questionnaire was “deliberately weighted” in favour of other options, but this was rejected by the council.
But in the report, the council says the quiz's results should be “treated with some caution” over fears the consultation had been hijacked by Holywell Mead Pool Group campaigners.
The report also states that “it does not appear” non-users of the former pool would use the facility if it was re-opened and the facility would “attract no greater numbers”.
The report states: “These results need to be treated with some caution as many responses were identical to a large number of other survey forms.
“A response that occurred on batches of forms submitted was worded exactly as follows 'retain the main swimming pool and all its current facilities'.
“This phrase was used on a leaflet distributed by the Holywell Mead Pool Group.
“It appears the group have successfully motivated supporters to respond to the consultation to reinstate the past provision.”
But Cllr Steve Guy, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Wycombe, said the council's findings were “worded to fit its own agenda”.
He has now called on the council to “finally listen to what people want, which is an outdoor pool at Holywell Mead”.
Click on the link below to read the full council report. Leave your comments below.
Comments(19)
Neil Bailey Save Holywell Mead Pool
says...
11:22am Tue 6 Apr 10
Thank you all very much for your support in working towards restoring the community swimming pool and expanded community services at Holywell Mead heated swimming pool your support in the thousands is most gratifying - we will need all your help to turn your wishes into reality
Best wishes to all the open air heated swimming pool's supporters
Neil Bailey
Chair
Holywell Mead Pool Steering Group - Save Our Swim
Neil Bailey Save Holywell Mead Pool
says...
11:22am Tue 6 Apr 10
Thank you all very much for your support in working towards restoring the community swimming pool and expanded community services at Holywell Mead heated swimming pool your support in the thousands is most gratifying - we will need all your help to turn your wishes into reality
Best wishes to all the open air heated swimming pool's supporters
Neil Bailey
Chair
Holywell Mead Pool Steering Group - Save Our Swim
Neil Bailey Save Holywell Mead Pool
says...
11:22am Tue 6 Apr 10
Thank you all very much for your support in working towards restoring the community swimming pool and expanded community services at Holywell Mead heated swimming pool your support in the thousands is most gratifying - we will need all your help to turn your wishes into reality
Best wishes to all the open air heated swimming pool's supporters
Neil Bailey
Chair
Holywell Mead Pool Steering Group - Save Our Swim
Neil Bailey Save Holywell Mead Pool
says...
11:22am Tue 6 Apr 10
Thank you all very much for your support in working towards restoring the community swimming pool and expanded community services at Holywell Mead heated swimming pool your support in the thousands is most gratifying - we will need all your help to turn your wishes into reality
Best wishes to all the open air heated swimming pool's supporters
Neil Bailey
Chair
Holywell Mead Pool Steering Group - Save Our Swim
Mutley
says...
11:47am Tue 6 Apr 10
(Neil's thanks appears 4 times at the moment)
Anwar Mohammed Akhtar Ali
says...
1:00pm Tue 6 Apr 10
I think WDC are desparately looking for ways to do anything but re-open the pool.
They carry out a public consultation to allegedly get the rate-paying public's opinion on what to do with the pool.
They get an overwhelming response for re-opening the pool and immediately descredit it by saying that these responses are less valid because they were influenced by local public campaigning, use of the same phrases/wording (how many ways are there to say "REOPEN OUR POOL!") and delivery of responses in batches.
To me this shows that democracy and public interest in community facilities is well and truly alive.
The Council now know what the public want and so should carry out those wishes. Anything less would be a grave injustice and proof that these consultations count for nothing.
yog
says...
1:22pm Tue 6 Apr 10
Anwar Mohammed Akhtar Ali wrote:Well said, I really do hope that WDC listen to local residents and reopen the swimming pool with some of the exciting additional income generating facilities that have been suggested.
I strongly recommend that everyone reads the actual WDC comissioned report.
I think WDC are desparately looking for ways to do anything but re-open the pool.
They carry out a public consultation to allegedly get the rate-paying public's opinion on what to do with the pool.
They get an overwhelming response for re-opening the pool and immediately descredit it by saying that these responses are less valid because they were influenced by local public campaigning, use of the same phrases/wording (how many ways are there to say "REOPEN OUR POOL!") and delivery of responses in batches.
To me this shows that democracy and public interest in community facilities is well and truly alive.
The Council now know what the public want and so should carry out those wishes. Anything less would be a grave injustice and proof that these consultations count for nothing.
J B Blackett
says...
1:28pm Tue 6 Apr 10
Anwar Mohammed Akhtar Ali wrote:Well done and said , AMAA.
I strongly recommend that everyone reads the actual WDC comissioned report.
I think WDC are desparately looking for ways to do anything but re-open the pool.
They carry out a public consultation to allegedly get the rate-paying public's opinion on what to do with the pool.
They get an overwhelming response for re-opening the pool and immediately descredit it by saying that these responses are less valid because they were influenced by local public campaigning, use of the same phrases/wording (how many ways are there to say "REOPEN OUR POOL!") and delivery of responses in batches.
To me this shows that democracy and public interest in community facilities is well and truly alive.
The Council now know what the public want and so should carry out those wishes. Anything less would be a grave injustice and proof that these consultations count for nothing.
.
The current Wycombe District Council is composed of people who are very uncaring , authoritarian and dictatorial (either that or they are time-serving lackeys).
.
They must be opposed in their undemocratic methods and behaviours , which are now out of control.
.
Regards
MCarey
says...
6:16pm Tue 6 Apr 10
what facilities?
nannynanny
says...
9:22pm Tue 6 Apr 10
Plus ça change...
says...
9:05am Wed 7 Apr 10
With the greenery taking over, it's looking more and more 'Roman' every day!
I wonder what Maximus would say.
Agniesca
says...
11:36am Wed 7 Apr 10
towncryer
says...
2:03pm Wed 7 Apr 10
I for one will not be voting Tory at this general election and next year at District elections Clarke and her Tory lot are not getting my vote
Bye Bye Lesley !!
towncryer
says...
2:03pm Wed 7 Apr 10
I for one will not be voting Tory at this general election and next year at District elections Clarke and her Tory lot are not getting my vote
Bye Bye Lesley !!
sai-diva
says...
12:50pm Thu 8 Apr 10
Steve.m
says...
12:45am Fri 9 Apr 10
russell_face
says...
3:54pm Fri 9 Apr 10
What a waste of time and money. I take that to mean the results weren't in accordance to their agenda so just ignore them.
This report also seems to suggest that the results are untrustworthy because of "public campaigning". That's like saying that the general election is void because politicians are currently roaming the country, kissing babies and knocking on doors.
Absolute poppycock!
character1
says...
9:06pm Sat 10 Apr 10
Perhaps WDC should stop trying to destroy the sports and leisure Facilities and embrace enhance and promote what they already have.
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Holywell Mead consultation reveals residents 'want cafe and pool'
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Wycombe Marsh Rebel says...
11:19am Tue 6 Apr 10