A decision to shelve plans to create a new swimming pool in Maryport has been called in by a group of leading Cumberland councillors.
The authority’s ruling executive said at the end of last month it had reluctantly decided not to go ahead with transforming part of the Wave Centre into a pool due to spiralling costs and energy price rises.
Its decision sparked outrage in the town and Workington MP Mark Jenkinson waded in, launching an online petition.
But councillors said they were left with no option other than to come up with a plan B as they were warned potential subsidies for the building could reach £500,000 a year.
However, councillors Carni McCarron-Holmes, Bill Pegram, Andrew Semple, Markus Campbell-Savours and Jim Grisdale have now called in that decision and asked the authority’s place overview and scrutiny committee to examine it.
The committee is due to meet on May 17 at Allerdale House.
The councillors said: “We share the disappointment of the Maryport community and wish to challenge and scrutinise the decision not to proceed with the pool project at The Wave Centre.
“In particular the issues regarding ongoing revenue implications of the scheme. We request a call-in hearing and access to relevant papers.”
The committee will deal with the issue behind closed doors, because it relates to its financial and business affairs.
Members have three options. They can:
- Refer the matter back to the decision-making body, in this case the leader, for reconsideration setting out in writing the nature of its concerns
- Refer the matter to full council
- Not refer the matter back to the decision making body, in which case the decision shall take effect from the date of the meeting
The majority of the money for the swimming pool was coming from the Government’s Future High Streets Fund.
After the executive’s decision was made on April 25, a spokesman for Cumberland Council, said: “We realise this is hugely disappointing news for the people of Maryport who were keen to see this new facility at The Wave.
“Councillors felt that the council simply cannot afford to commit large amounts of revenue funding for a pool which may never be financially sustainable.
“In addition to subsidising the increasing build costs, this project will not be viable because of the funds required to operate it.
“To put the numbers into context, existing subsidies plus what it could cost going forward with a swimming pool, means that councillors felt they were unable to justify potentially spending close to £500,000 of taxpayers’ money every year at this moment in time, and they were not prepared to reduce other vital public services to meet the heating and operating costs.
“The team will now put all their energy into creating new, ambitious and exciting alternatives for Maryport, in addition to the great work taking place there already.
“The alternative won’t be a swimming pool but we are confident that we can make something that will be appealing to local people and visitors alike.”
The original budget for the creation of a swimming pool at The Wave was £5.2 million. As of March this year, the build costs have increased to an estimated £5.6m.
