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Beware changes to proposal for a town swmming pool
EDITOR - Local townsfolk should be made aware of the reasons for the continued lack of progress regarding the possibility of constructing a Market Rasen swimming pool.
At the opening of the West Lindsey District Council (WLDC) council meeting of Septenber 28, in item 43, the chairman, Coun Jessie Milne, said she wished to consider, urgently, a paper about 'the revised concept for the pool'.
WLDC (who claim to practice open government) quoted the reason for revising the concept was that: "Unfortunately due to a change in circumstances around sensitive site information, it was necessary for the (original) paper to be recalled and the information in it to be treated as confidential".
In item 52, the Technical and Services Manager explained the Rasen Pool thinking would now be based on the one-year-old pool at Highworth. This would be a 4 lane, 25-metre pool enclosed by a light aluminium structure. Highworth had 'only' cost 1.4 million, but it did have a planned revenue deficit of 600,000 in five years. In other words, local council taxpayers will only have to find another 120,000 a year!
The council members were reminded that "swimming pools very rarely operate at a profit".
This is not always true! Agreed, council-run leisure facilities, like Gainsborough pool, usually lose a lot of money. Those in the private sector seldom do, or they would have to close. They are guaranteed solvent by a pre-paying membership.
It was resolved that public consultation on the revised pool details would be carried out.
So be ready to be asked to approve a small pool in a small aluminium shed, with no other facilities. But don't expect to be consulted about the eventual site or the true costs to be borne by the council taxpayer.
Beware also of WLDC consultation documents with tick boxes. The questions will be carefully crafted to give the result desired by whoever is commissioning the consultation. Have your true opinions ready to put in the 'remarks' box at the end of the survey. (If there is one!)
You can follow the intriguing saga of the pool – among other things – on West Lindsey's website. In item 53 of the minutes of the September 28 meeting, you will find all the latest news, good and bad, about the Icelandic millions.
Ian Watson-Smith
North Kelsey
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Weather for Market Rasen
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
