PURLEY POOL CLOSURE OPPONENTS PUT THEIR CASE TO CABINET MEMBER
Barry Kay, a regular user of the Purley Swimming Pool, and Ken Trench, organiser of the annual Purley Swimathon, recently met Cllr Steve Hollands, to discuss the Council's plans to close Purley Pool in 18 months time.
After the meeting the main points discussed and agreed were confirmed to Cllr Hollands in the following email:
Dear Steve,
Thanks for giving Barry Kay and myself so much time to discuss the future of Purley Pool.
I hope that we were able to give you an idea of the strength of feeling amongst pool users and residents regarding the Council's apparent plan to close the pool before other facilities are in place. Moving the pool facility from Purley to Coulsdon is being highly criticised, especially when Coulsdon residents are being told it will help their regeneration. "Coulsdon's regeneration at the expense of Purley's degeneration," is a fair comment.
However, let's be specific about the points we discussed regarding the Purley Pool and my summary of these is as follows:
1. You will use your best endeavours to keep the current pool open beyond November 2008 until the building is about to be replaced or other nearby swimming facilities are in place, in order to retain swimming facilities for Purley residents.
2. The November 2008 date was announced as you have funding to that date. After the immediate works are carried out (mainly lighting and ventilation) a further assessment of other works required will be carried out as a basis for future decisions.
3. You agree that a Pool Users' Group (4 to 5 regular swimmers) should be set up to act as an information source and liaison point between pool management, swimmers and the Council.
4. You will provide details of works and costs that are to be carried out over the next few months.
5. I will seek a meeting with Tony Middleton to obtain some indication of the position regarding the possible time frame of potential development of both the Purley and Coulsdon sites.
6. With regard to funding longer term opening, S106 agreements should be investigated including amending some retrospectively with individual developer's agreement.
7. With the Tesco Purley development to 140,000 sq. ft (compared with Addington's 40,000) a substantial S106 agreement should be forthcoming. The potential of this providing a major facility on the Purley Sainsbury site should be considered as a strategy for negotiation. (The cost of buying out the leaseholder being met by flat and retail development?)
We hope that as time moves on a sensible and achievable strategy develops and we look forward to working with you,
Best regards, Ken Trench
After the meeting the main points discussed and agreed were confirmed to Cllr Hollands in the following email:
Dear Steve,
Thanks for giving Barry Kay and myself so much time to discuss the future of Purley Pool.
I hope that we were able to give you an idea of the strength of feeling amongst pool users and residents regarding the Council's apparent plan to close the pool before other facilities are in place. Moving the pool facility from Purley to Coulsdon is being highly criticised, especially when Coulsdon residents are being told it will help their regeneration. "Coulsdon's regeneration at the expense of Purley's degeneration," is a fair comment.
However, let's be specific about the points we discussed regarding the Purley Pool and my summary of these is as follows:
1. You will use your best endeavours to keep the current pool open beyond November 2008 until the building is about to be replaced or other nearby swimming facilities are in place, in order to retain swimming facilities for Purley residents.
2. The November 2008 date was announced as you have funding to that date. After the immediate works are carried out (mainly lighting and ventilation) a further assessment of other works required will be carried out as a basis for future decisions.
3. You agree that a Pool Users' Group (4 to 5 regular swimmers) should be set up to act as an information source and liaison point between pool management, swimmers and the Council.
4. You will provide details of works and costs that are to be carried out over the next few months.
5. I will seek a meeting with Tony Middleton to obtain some indication of the position regarding the possible time frame of potential development of both the Purley and Coulsdon sites.
6. With regard to funding longer term opening, S106 agreements should be investigated including amending some retrospectively with individual developer's agreement.
7. With the Tesco Purley development to 140,000 sq. ft (compared with Addington's 40,000) a substantial S106 agreement should be forthcoming. The potential of this providing a major facility on the Purley Sainsbury site should be considered as a strategy for negotiation. (The cost of buying out the leaseholder being met by flat and retail development?)
We hope that as time moves on a sensible and achievable strategy develops and we look forward to working with you,
Best regards, Ken Trench
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