Accrington Observer

Baths axe sparks row over future of town’s leisure

- STUART PIKE

APRE- ELECTION political row has erupted over the future of Great Harwood’s Mercer Baths - following the announceme­nt of a £10m revamp of Hyndburn’s leisure offer.

Hyndburn’s Cabinet last week agreed the leisure centre would be “repurposed”, and a new Claytonle-Moors pool built.

The council is due to launch a consultati­on into a future use for the Mercer Hall building, citing previous repurposin­g projects - including the Town Hall and Churchfiel­d House in Great Harwood.

Lancashire County Council’s Labour group this week issued a commitment to the site should they successful­ly wrest county hall control from the Conservati­ves in May. However, MP and borough councillor Sara Britcliffe accused them of thinking the public were “stupid”.

Labour group leader Coun Azhar Ali said: “We will work to ensure that there are new facilities for the 21st century at Mercer Hall, working with Hyndburn Leisure Trust and Hyndburn council.”

The suite of changes - including the refurbishm­ent of Hyndburn Leisure Centre and a new facility at Wilson’s to include a fourlane 25m swimming pool, gym, group exercise studio, changing facilities and café, form what Hyndburn Labour leader Coun Miles Parkinson hailed as the largest investment in the borough’s leisure offer for nearly 50 years.

“They will be voted on by full council next week.”

The report stated: “It has been independen­tly assessed that a refurbishm­ent of [Mercer Hall] in its current form would not provide value for money and is not a commercial­ly viable option to progress.

“This site is at an ongoing risk of mechanical failure which could render this building and / or the facilities unusable either for a significan­t period of time or permanentl­y.”

Great Harwood Coun Noordad Aziz, who is campaignin­g for elections in May, said: “Mercer Hall is a jewel in the crown for Great Harwood and doing nothing isn’t an option - as identified by the independen­t report. Great Harwood in my opinion must have a significan­t leisure offering as it has some of the worst childhood wellbeing in the borough.

“This commitment by Lancashire Labour to work with all the bodies including Hyndburn Leisure and Hyndburn Borough Council to future proof and invest in Mercer Hall is exciting and transforma­tive.”

Hyndburn council’s cabinet member for leisure Coun Munsif Dad said: “This is a wonderful opportunit­y for Great Harwood. Hyndburn council is committed to working with a Labour-run County Council to deliver an upgraded facility at Mercer Hall”.

But Miss Britcliffe said: “It’s hypocritic­al that Labour councillor­s that will be voting to close the baths next Thursday are also the Labour councillor­s that will save it if elected! Labour think the public are stupid; they tried that same tack in the last election. Thankfully the residents of Hyndburn can see through it.

“Lancashire County Council has never been responsibl­e for leisure services; that has always been the responsibi­lity of the borough council, which Labour already control.

“People rely on this local amenity; it worries and frightens them when they hear it may close. That’s why the Conservati­ve group want to ensure this facility stays for the residents of Great Harwood and surroundin­g area.

“We have a clear plan to do so by putting immediate capital investment in to the Baths.”

Hyndburn council elections are also due in May, although with 25 of the 33 seats currently held by Labour, it would require an unlikely Tory clean sweep of results for them to seize control over Hyndburn from Labour.

Miss Britcliffe added: “The residents will rightly judge Labour on their abysmal record with public services. Labour closed the youth centre in Great Harwood, they closed the library in Clayton-leMoors and Oswaldtwis­tle, and earmarked Rishton Library for closure. And threatened services at Copper House. Labour always make grand gestures during election time such as reopening the waste recycling centre in Great Harwood. The reality is they can’t be trusted not to break their word.”

 ??  ?? ●● Mercer Hall Leisure Centre pool, and last week’s front page (inset)
●● Mercer Hall Leisure Centre pool, and last week’s front page (inset)
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