Liberal Democrats demand moratorium on Library and Leisure Centre Closures

Liberal Democrat Councillors brought a motion to Full Council on 21 September calling for an immediate moratorium on further closures of libraries, leisure centres and community facilities. This came amid warnings that Warrington could be left with little more than the bare legal minimum of provision.

The motion, proposed by Cllr Sharon Harris and seconded by Cllr Helen Speed, comes about because of the continued closure of Woolston Neighbourhood Hub. This was shut despite more than 3,000 residents responding to a public consultation. There is also the closure of Broomfields Leisure Centre's swimming pool, which has cancelled classes and disrupted swimming lessons for pupils at Bridgewater High School. If the whole Centre closed there would be a severe loss of netball and football facilities.

Cllr Sharon Harris, who proposed the motion, said: “I've stood in a room with a hundred residents who came out on a weekday night because they are desperate not to lose Broomfields. I strongly supported the residents of Woolston who are desperate not to lose their pool and community hub. They deserve a straight answer about what happens next, not silence while the pools stay shut and classes are cancelled indefinitely.”

Cllr Helen Speed, who seconded the motion, added: “This isn't just about one pool or one hub. Without a proper plan, decisions are being made by neglect rather than by choice. We've been advised that the Council's strict legal minimum could be just one library and one swimming pool for a growing borough of over 212,000 people. Residents deserve better than managed decline.”

Their motion calls on the Council's Cabinet to publish a five-year Recovery and Transformation Plan, covering every affected facility. It wants an immediate moratorium on further permanent closures until that Plan has been properly considered. It also calls for the publishing of the long-overdue Community Asset Transfer policy as part of the emerging Cultural Strategy, and for the Council to work with Warrington's two MPs to continue seeking emergency government support.