Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Last ditch call to save Plas Madoc leisure centre


Campaigners fighting plans to close Plas Madoc Leisure Centre have issued a last-ditch challenge to councillors, urging them to be "bravehearts not faint hearts".

Rachel Lewis, for the Save Plas Madoc Leisure Centre campaign, said: "Councillors will meet today (Tuesday, Feb 4th) to discuss the future of our leisure services. They know that more than 2200 people have responded to the consultation - an unprecedented figure in such a short period of time. They will also be aware of the mass protests and the thousands of people who have signed petitions calling for the centre to be saved.

"Our challenge to councillors is simple - question the basis for the officers' proposal to close Plas Madoc and Waterworld and replace it with one new smaller centre in Wrexham. Question the consultants about the accuracy of their report and whether the repair and maintenance costs are overstated. Question the council leaders about why their maintenance department has been carrying out a survey of Plas Madoc leisure centre in the past week. Question what plans the council has got for the sites at Waterworld and Plas Madoc - if there is a masterplan, why aren't people being told? Or will we end up with more derelict sites such as the Groves school and Grosvenor Road?

"We have challenged the consultants' report for its accuracy on user levels, maintenance costs and services such as disabled lifts. It seems the council is belatedly waking up to the fact that its consultants might not have got it right, despite receiving £51,000 for the job.

"Councillors will be making decisions in the coming week that will impact on this area for a generation. This is a time for bravehearts not faint hearts. We want councillors to speak out for their communities and to represent the people, not toe the party line. We will be outside to remind all our representatives that they have a responsibility towards us and our children. It will be the next generation that has to do without a leisure centre within a convenient distance."

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