COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

A leisure centre is earmarked for closure in Coventry while £8m will be spent improving facilities at another.

Coventry City Council is set to close Foleshill Sports and Leisure Centre, which is losing the authority £250,000 a year.

However, it plans to build a 25m pool, a teaching pool and a health suite at the current Centre AT7.

Councillor Phil Townshend said: "We want to make our facilities fit for the 21st century."

He said: "In 2012, the year the Olympic Games comes to Coventry, we want to deliver a new model for sports provision across the city that puts people at the heart of a new vision for sport."

The Labour-controlled authority said the Foleshill centre had seen a 60% drop in visitors since 1995 and facilities are so old that the pool has to be shut down for nearly two days if it is contaminated.

The plans will be considered at a cabinet meeting due to be held on Tuesday, 3 January.

City Council leaders have backed plans to splash out £8million on new swimming facilities and close an historic baths in Foleshill – despite a petition signed by 1,300 residents.



The plan to close Foleshill Sports Centre and swimming pool – where Livingstone Baths has stood since the 1930s – and build new swimming pools at AT7 sports centre a mile away, was approved by Labour leaders yesterday with Tory backing.

The cabinet decision to develop the proposals came shortly after protesters handed in a petition which will continue to gather signatures.

Councillor Phil Townshend, Labour cabinet member for sport, said it was the first of several changes to city leisure facilities aimed at providing “cost-effective” activities for all, and tackling health inequalities.

He said Livingstone Baths – run by the deficit-hit Coventry Sports Trust – was no longer “fit for purpose”, requiring taxpayer subsidies of £250,000-a-year, while its use had declined by 60 per cent since 1995.

He said it was running on just one boiler, and faced potential safety problems with its filter system.

Conservative group leader councillor Kevin Foster agreed people were “voting with their feet” by not visiting.

He said the previous Tory administration had pumped in £1.1million on the basis the facility was near its sell-by date.

Coun Townshend said he wanted the council’s future leisure policy to not just “nurture Olympic talent of the future like David Moorcroft and Adam Whitehead”, but provide “inclusive” activities for everybody to join in to “address health inequalities which have plagued the city for 30 years.”

Labour councillor Joe Clifford said he had grown up using the baths and “remembered the Brylcreem machine which was more use to him then than now”.

But he said the plan was a “fantastic piece of news”. Labour and Tory councillors united in recognising the “emotional attachment” to Livingstone Baths in Livingstone Road, and supported developing public transport to get some people from Foleshill to the AT7 centre, the other side of the A444.

AT7 is run by Coventry Sports Foundation which will see more joint working with Coventry Sports Trust.

The new facilities will include a 25 metre pool and learner pool, a health suite and improved parking - to be paid by council borrowing of up to £8million, with taxpayers paying the loan back from the revenue budget for council services.

But Foleshill centre user William Bromwich, who handed in the petition, said: “The protests will continue.

"Livingstone baths is a much loved community facility, which only needs a bit of a cash injection.”

Foleshill meeting dominated by plans to close Livingstone Baths

A meeting about health problems in one of the poorest areas of Coventry was dominated by concerns about plans to axe Foleshill Sports and Leisure Centre on Wednesday night.

Around 50 people – including residents, councillors, health professionals and police officers – met at St Paul’s Church in Foleshill Road for the Connecting Communities project.

It aimed to focus an improving the area which has the lowest average life expectancy in the city.

It comes amid plans to close Foleshill Sports and Leisure Centre – where Livingstone Baths has stood since the 1930s.

Parachuted in to lead the consultation is senior nurse Heather Henry.

“People in Foleshill die 14 years earlier than those in the most affluent areas of Coventry and are more than half as likely again to have circulatory diseases and heart attacks.

“The gap between the haves and the have nots is getting bigger nationally – and it’s getting bigger in Foleshill.”

The Connecting Communities initiative is targeting Foleshill with a public consultation about problems such as obesity, drugs and housing deprivation.

It aims to set up a permanent partnership of community groups, faith groups and local service providers to highlight ‘priority issues’ affecting health.

General problems identified by residents have included; fly tipping, parking, youths urinating in doorways and historic buildings – such as the former General Wolfe pub – not being protected.

Applause greeted a number of comments from residents who said health problems in Foleshill would get much worse if the leisure centre is closed.

Resident Tony McGregor, 73, said: “We hear a lot about the state of health in Foleshill.

"But the council is going to close Foleshill Sports Centre. We have nothing else here in Foleshill.”

The historic baths could close within two years and be replaced by new £8 million swimming facilities at the AT7 centre, a mile away in Bell Green Road.

Use of the leisure centre has declined by 60 per cent since 1995.

Councillor Abdul Khan (Foleshill, Labour) said: “There will be a consultation and any decision will be made after that consultation.

‘‘When the consultation is under way everyone must respond and that could change the idea and something else could happen.”

But Sharn Bahar, 44, of Station Street West, Foleshill, hit back: “Sometimes we in Foleshill are concerned we are consulted, but it is just lip service and then everything carries on regardless.”

Protesters march to save Foleshill Sports Centre

VOCAL protesters marched through Coventry with the message “save our leisure centre” at the weekend.

Armed with a petition bearing nearly 10,000 signatures and dozens of placards, more than 100 campaigners fighting the closure of Foleshill Sports Centre marched from Foleshill to the Council House on Saturday.

People of all ages and backgrounds joined the demonstration, united by their passion for the Livingstone Road baths which is under threat.

The council plans to close the centre and invest £8million in new swimming pools at the AT7 Centre, in Bell Green, a mile away.

Residents have reacted with anger, saying it would be a huge loss to the community after serving generations of families since the 1930s.

Jay Alam, 40, of Lythalls Lane, said: “The centre is the only facility in Foleshill that brings everyone together. The AT7 isn’t as accessible. It won’t have the same community feel.”

Dad Imtyaz Maqsood, 39, of Holmsdate Road, added: “It’s at the heart of Foleshill and at the heart of Edgwick. They should invest in what we’ve already got. It would save money.”

His daughters Aliza, seven, and Maria, eight, joined the protest which left from Edgwick Park in Foleshill Road.

Aliza said: “I like going swimming there and would be upset if it closed. That’s why I’m going on the march.”

Councillor Dave Nellist (Soc, St Michael’s) was also at the demonstration.

“I’ve got a personal interest – my kids used to swim there,” he said.

“I’m supporting them because while I’m not against new sports facilities in Coventry if they developed the AT7 centre it would serve a different type of people. I think we should keep what we’ve got.”

William Bromwich, campaign organiser, led the march as it weaved down Foleshill Road, through Lady Herbert’s Garden and Hales Street to the Council House in Earl Street where the petition was presented.

He said: “We are adamant that the council shouldn’t take the sports centre away from Foleshill.

“Foleshill has the highest mortality rate in the city, that’s why it needs a leisure centre.”

During the gathering at Edgwick Park, Mr Bromwich also announced he will stand in the forthcoming council elections as an independent councillor for Foleshill. “I feel I could do a better job than our representatives,” he said.

“I was born in Foleshill, went to school in Foleshill. I know the people of Foleshill and honestly feel let down by our present ward councillors.

“When I say that I speak on behalf of the 10,000 people who signed the petition. “I learnd to swim at the baths and took my own children there.

“If they take the leisure centre away the next generation of my family will lose the facilities.”

Twiggy Scott, chair of Webdale Residents’ Association in Foleshill, said they would take their fight all the way to the Olympics.

She said: “We’ll protest at the Ricoh Arena during the Olympics if we have to – let the world know what we’re going through and why because we’re proud of what we’ve got.”

Protestors accused Labour councillors of failing to stand up for the community on the issue.

Foleshill Labour councillor Coun Abdul Khan, also speaking on behalf of fellow Labour councillors for the ward – Coun Malkiat Singh Auluck and Coun Tariq Khan who were also present – said: “We are here because we support the campaign.

"A decision hasn’t yet been made and there is to be a consultation. We are against it and will do what we can to keep the centre open.”

Consultation could seal future of Foleshill Leisure Centre

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save a swimming baths in Foleshill fear a new survey by Coventry City Council will have little effect on their battle.

People who use leisure centres across the city have been sent surveys from the Coventry City Council and Coventry Sports Trust to determine how they should deliver sports and leisure facilities in future.

The letter states a general survey is being carried out to find people’s thoughts on sports and leisure provision – and help authorities to decide the future of the Foleshill Leisure Centre in Livingstone Road.

Steve Wiles, development manager for facilities and contracts at Coventry City Council, writes : “The results will support the delivery of a new model to make sure sports and leisure facilities are high quality, efficient to operate and fit for purpose.

“It will also help decide what to do about the Foleshill Sports and Leisure Centre which is no longer considered to meet these standards.”

This has angered users of the Foleshill centre who say the survey is not impartial as it is being carried out by two organisations who have already expressed a desire to close the centre.

Campaigner Tony McGregor, from Holbrook Lane, said: “I was disappointed to see the survey is organised by the council and Sports Foundation who want to close the centre. How can it be impartial?

“There should be a separate consultation. It is clear this is just for the council to get public opinion on the Foleshill Leisure Centre and not on all other centres.

“Surely another company should have been brought in to run this so that we can get a true view of the people in Foleshill.

“It looks to me as if everything on the centre has already been signed and sealed and this survey is just to cover the council’s backs.”

The Foleshill Leisure Centre, which has been open 75 years, faces closure as the council plans to invest £8million in new swimming pools at the AT7 Centre, in Bell Green.

A city council spokesman said the survey was for all local people to give their views on sport and leisure provision rather than doing a separate one for Foleshill.

He added: “Coventry City Council wants to use the views of local people to support the development of a radical new strategy for improving sport provision that would see an £8 million investment in new swimming facilities in the north east of the city.

“Residents are also being asked to share their views on Foleshill Sports and Leisure Centre, which has been proposed for closure as part of the strategy backed by councillors earlier this year.”

The consultation runs until August 26, when a final decision will be made on the Foleshill baths.

£8million plan for Coventry's AT7 sports centre recommended for planning consent

COUNCILLORS on Coventry’s planning committee will be urged next week to approve plans for a new swimming pool and redevelopment of a sports centre.

The £8million plans for the AT7 sports centre in Courthouse Green near the A444 have been linked by council leaders with their controversial plan to close the historic Foleshill Sports and Leisure Centre, known as Livingstone Baths.

While the outcome of a recent public consultation on the closure plan is still awaited, Coventry City Council’s planning committee will next Thursday consider planning permission for the AT7 scheme.

Council planning officers are to recommend councillors grant planning consent.

The council’s Labour leaders, announcing both plans simultaneously a year ago, said the new facility would provide a better use of limited funds, and would compensate for losing the 1930s baths in Livingstone Road – saying Foleshill residents could switch to the new facility.

But protests have seen 10,000 people signing a petition against the closure of what campaigners say is a valued facility on their doorsteps.

They say the Foleshill community – facing some of the city’s most challenging health issues – would lose out, as many would not easily be able to travel to AT7 a mile away.

The AT7 plans, submitted by bosses Coventry and Warwickshire Award Trust, involve a two-storey extension to include a 25-metre swimming pool and “aquatic centre” with a learner pool, modifications to the existing building and a new car park with 216 spaces.

New facilities will also include a health suite with a sauna, steam room and jacuzzi, changing rooms, and a new entrance foyer.

Upstairs would comprise offices and a function room.

The extension would be built on an existing car park area, and a grass football pitch would also be lost.

The planning officers’ report to councillors states they should consider as “main issues” the “principle of development” and its design, the loss of a grass playing pitch, traffic and parking issues – and not whether or not Foleshill Leisure Centre would close as a result.

It adds: “The transport assessment concludes that the site is accessible by a choice of means of transport with good cycle and pedestrian links and bus routes within 400 metres.”

A council spokesman said: “A decision on the future of Foleshill Sports and Leisure Centre will be taken by councillors in the weeks following this.”

Councillor Phil Townshend, Labour cabinet member for sport, has said Livingstone Baths – long run by the deficit-hit Coventry Sports Trust – was no longer “fit for purpose”, and required taxpayer subsidies of £250,000-a-year.

Plans approved for £8m swimming pool at AT7 Centre in Courthouse Green

THE go-ahead has been given for a new swimming pool in Coventry – despite fears it will mean the end of historic baths nearby.

City councillors yesterday unanimously approved plans for the £8million development at the AT7 Centre in Bell Green Road, Courthouse Green.

Members of the planning committee said the application had to be judged on its own merits, and not how it might affect the future of Foleshill Leisure Centre, a mile away in Livingstone Road.

A decision on the future of the 80-year-old pool and gym will be made in the coming weeks.

But campaigners who do not want the Foleshill site to close fear the two will go hand-in-hand, and staged a protest outside the Council House before the meeting. More than 10,000 people have also signed a petition.

Coun Abdul Khan (Lab, Foleshill), who is not on the planning committee, spoke on behalf of the protesters before members made their decision.

He said: “I have received a number of representations from residents concerned about Foleshill Leisure Centre and their belief that if a decision is taken today to allow this application to proceed, then the closure of Foleshill Leisure Centre would be inevitable.”

Coun Abdul urged the committee to defer a decision until after the results of a public consultation on the Foleshill closure plan were known.

Committee member Coun Gary Crookes (Con, Wainbody) said he understood that approving the AT7 plans would “give the perception of a done deal” but added: “It’s outside the remit of this committee to take that into consideration.”

Committee chairman Kevin Maton (Lab, Henley) replied: “The issue here is addressing this particular site, and if the application is appropriate to that site.”

And Coun John McNicholas (Lab, Lower Stoke) said: “It has to be considered on its own merits.”

Speaking after the meeting, campaigner William Bromwich, of Lady Lane, Longford, told the Telegraph: “We’re really disappointed with the approval of the plans but we’re not going to fade away. We will stay fighting right to the end.”

Anger as Coventry council backs closure of Foleshill swimming baths

RULING Labour councillors were accused of ignoring public opinion as they voted to close an historic swimming baths in Coventry.

In swinging the axe on Foleshill Leisure Centre and its 1930s “Livingstone Baths”, Coventry City Council’s cabinet yesterday approved a new £7.5million swimming facility a mile away at AT7 in Courthouse Green.

As the cabinet heard of potential plans to eventually replace the Livingstone Road centre with an NHS health facility, leading protester William Bromwich accused them of letting the people’s voice “fall on deaf ears”.

He accused sports cabinet member Coun Phil Townshend of betraying his Foleshill roots.

Coun Townshend insisted it would improve facilities and healthy opportunities for the disadvantaged Foleshill community.

The cabinet heard a survey suggested a third of the Foleshill centre’s users lived within a mile of AT7, and transport links to the new pool would be improved.

But Mr Bromwich said transport and walking would be difficult for many. He said closing the centre would do nothing to address health problems in the Foleshill ward he grew up in.

He told the cabinet: “I could give you 100,000 signatures. Your decision would still be, ‘Let’s close it.’

“My father, sister and brother all died in their 60s with heart disease or diabetes. That’s why I’ve fought so hard to keep this facility.”

“We don’t need another health centre or doctors. People don’t need a prescription to tackle diabetes or depression. They can do that through fitness.”

He challenged Labour councillors’ claims the baths were too expensive to maintain and “unfit for purpose” by saying it would need £120,000 repairs, including £50,000 on a new boiler.

Foleshill Labour councillor Abdul Khan challenged his colleague’s claims the run-down centre had seen a sharp decline in use, by blaming a lack of investment.

Conservative councillor Kevin Foster backed the plan, now expected to rubber-stamped by a full council meeting next Tuesday.

He said his Tory group, in power before 2010, had decided to keep the Foleshill centre only until other plans could be developed. The plan is for a phased closure of all the Foleshill centre’s services in line with the opening of new facilities at AT7.

AT7 will get a 25-metre swimming pool, learner pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room, offices, function room and a 216-space car park.

'Foleshill Leisure Centre closure has left us homeless' claim disabled Coventry swimmers



Disabled swimmers say they’ve been left high and dry after their club’s home of 63 years was closed down by the council.

Officials at The Phoenix Swimming Club say they are homeless after Coventry City Council closed down Foleshill Leisure Centre.

A new pool has been built one mile away at Centre AT7 but, despite 10 months of negotiations with operators Coventry Sports Foundation (CSF), no agreement has been reached for the club to move there.

David Moreton, chairman of the club, said that has cast doubt on the future of the club.

The two-time Paralympic swimmer also said the uncertainty had seen the club miss out on two rounds of funding - and some of its 30 members leave.

He said: “We are homeless. Ten months ago we sat down with Centre AT7 and came to an agreement.

“It wasn’t the free swimming we had enjoyed for the past 63 years, but we knew that couldn’t continue.

“But, since we put the proposal to them, they haven’t responded.

“All we wanted was the agreement put in writing so we didn’t have to rely on another verbal agreement for the next 63 years.

“We have missed out on two rounds of funding because the offer was never in writing, and that’s down to the foundation.

“Those grants would have kept us going for 18 months. Luckily we have committee members willing to fund us.”

Mr Moreton said there was also some dispute over arrangements and price for the one-hour sessions on Saturdays.

He said: “We were told we could be put in a public session, but that wouldn’t work because some of the people with disabilities would feel self conscious.

“Apparently we’re on a preferential rate of £100 an hour, but I’ve heard that’s what other clubs have been offered.”

Wendy Jackson, from CSF, said: “We believed that an initial agreement had already been reached with the club and they were the first club to be put on Centre AT7’s swimming timetable.

“We were expecting the club to arrive at the new centre this Saturday for a swim session and we had also invited a member at the club to visit in advance to make sure that they were comfortable with the changing facilities and pool.

“We have made several attempts to contact the club over the last few months but have faced a number of communication barriers. We would like to welcome Phoenix Swimming Club to Centre AT7.”

Livingstone Baths may be torn down and replaced with doctor's surgery

The much-loved Livingstone Baths building in Foleshill may be torn down to make way for a doctor’s surgery.

Coventry City Council is preparing to pay £360,000 to demolish the now empty Foleshill Leisure Centre with a view to recouping much of the cost from Arden Estates Partnership (AEP).

The firm is interested in securing the site to build a new GP surgery on the land, and the council plans to grant AEP six-month exclusive rights to secure the Foleshill site.

However, AEP has not yet made a solid commitment to develop the land.

That means £360,000 of tax-payers money would be at risk if the firm changed its mind - and the council would have to wait six months before it could talk to other interested parties.

The plans are set to be approved during a business cabinet member meeting on Monday after council officials reported urgent action is needed after the site was targeted by thieves and vandals.

Labour Coun Maton, cabinet member for business, said: “There may be no firm commitment from anybody at the moment, but we can only get that commitment by making it available and making it a more attractive site.

“This is about making sure that health provision is there, in the first instance.

“It is about supporting this opportunity, it’s our building and our responsibility. This shows our commitment to redeveloping the site.”

The council shut the 1930s sports centre in August, citing £250,000 annual running costs, despite over 6,000 people signing a petition to save the venue.

Residents said closing the site would have an adverse impact on health in an area with some of the lowest life expectancy figures in the city.

But council officers report the creation of another doctor’s surgery could improve health prospects in the area - despite many others already existing close by.

Coun Maton said: “All the evidence shows, the people who need the health services that will be provided like their services to be very local.”

No other options have been considered by the council and public consultation will not take place until firmer plans have been drawn up.