The vote came amid controversy about the pools’ futures
West Lancashire council leaders have weathered a ‘no confidence’ vote over the future of swimming pools in Skelmersdale and Ormskirk. However, three Labour councillors have now become independent due to the dispute over whether to close swimming pools in the two towns.
One councillor said during a full council debate this week that any potential closures without replacements would be a ‘betrayal of both towns’. Labour councillors Yvonne Gagen, the council leader, and Carl Coughlan, who is responsible for leisure services, were targeted in a ‘no confidence’ motion by the Our West Lancashire (OWL) group.
However, Labour councillors dismissed these accusations. Outside the council building, some pool protesters gathered again, albeit in smaller numbers than in October.
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These included members of the Ormskirk Otters swimming club. The vote took place amidst controversy about the future of the pools, a recent public consultation by West Lancashire Council, and the backdrop of a new budget due next year.
One proposal is to close the two existing pools before any replacements are built, as a cost-saving measure. Government cuts and rising costs are among the factors cited, but there are counter-claims of poor work by councillors, reports Lancs Live.
The council is also seeking new design ideas after two recent blueprints were deemed unaffordable. Above-ground steel pools could be a cheaper option, a previous meeting heard, but a final decision has not yet been made.
OWL Cllr Adrian Owens, proposing a ‘no confidence’ motion, said: “This reflects the wishes and opinions of local residents. It is local people who elect us and who we should listen to.”
He added: “I’ve been a councillor for 25 years. I’ve never seen the levels of anger and contempt for the council that I see at this time. I can’t recall a petition being presented with so many signatures nor has there ever been a council consultation bringing anywhere close to 2,178 responses. This anger stretches across traditional political lines.”
Cllr Owens continued, regarding the situation with leisure services: “The council leader and lead member for leisure are driving us off the cliff top. It is time for a change of leadership before this council ends up the only one in the area with no council-operated swimming pools.”
Speaking on consultant spending and the council’s leadership Cllr Owens concluded: “Residents have lost all confidence in him. He has consistently taken a he-knows-best approach, refusing to listen to other political groups or involve them in cross-party working groups. As a result, the council has spent more than £1.7m in the past 12 months on leisure consultants, much of it on two new leisure centre designs which are now deemed unaffordable.”
Furthermore, he claimed: “He has also starved the existing centres of investment. Nothing has been spent for four years and only £26,000 in the past decade. Then he has the cheek to use the alleged poor condition as a reason for closure.”
The OWL motion garnered support from Conservatives, including Robert Bailey and David Westley, with Cllr Westley saying: “We had a cross-party working group on leisure for six or eight years. But it was stopped 12 months ago. We tried to get it reinstated in May. The council leadership, honestly, needs help. There is a lack of control. Unfortunately there’s lack of confidence in both of you.”
Former Labour councillors Neil Furey, Paul Hogan, and Kerry Lloyd have become independents due to the pools controversy. Cllr Furey said: “Make no mistake, community anger over potential closures is unbelievable. I hope we will hear some changes tonight. But this would be the ultimate betrayal of Ormskirk and Skelmersdale. People are up in arms, including teaching staff and governors. This cannot happen. There must be alternatives.”
Labour’s Gareth Dowling, deputy council leader, said: “We’ve had about 15 minutes of slagging from the opposition and independents. You can check back on details. To say these councillors have been expelled from Labour is wrong. I suggest we move to a vote because nobody is going to change their minds.”
The OWL motion was ultimately defeated by a narrow margin of 23 votes to 21.
