Towns' pools set to close (From Swindon Advertiser)

David McNally, says...
12:12pm Fri 24 Nov 06

What an absolute shambles. How on earth can we have such an incompetent district council. The council saw the writing on the wall when the trust was agreed back in 1999. The council simply cannot cut a subsidy by the amount they did and expect the facilities to remain open in what is such a competitive market. Short sighted and greedy Im afraid and I hope the district council are pleased with the legacy of this when children, elderly, disabled and general users cannot access leisure facilities without significant transport costs. Shame on you.

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Sally Roshier, says...
12:48pm Fri 24 Nov 06

What a shambles!!! When the government are trying to encourage children and adults to exercise more & fight obesity. My family and I are totally distraught!

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Phil Mann, says...
12:50pm Fri 24 Nov 06

Total incompetence!
How long has the council known about the problem?
What have they really tried to do to prevent the closure?
Do they not have a marketing dept?
Could they not have got someone in to help turn the business around and prevent the closure?

Maybe it suits them better if it does close.
How long before the housing developers move in?

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Jo Britten, says...
12:58pm Fri 24 Nov 06

Where are all the users of the facilities going to go? If NW leisure can't run these centre's efficiently perhaps the council should have tendered the contract to a company who can. It isn't acceptable to say we can use other facilities. Try getting swimming or trampolining lessons for your children anywhere in this area - its impossible. The centre's have waiting lists for these activities. How can the council representatives say the facilities are under-used ??

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Carol Lamb, says...
1:04pm Fri 24 Nov 06

Disgusting! Lime kiln is always busy in an evening how can they not be able to keep the centers open? Where we going to be able to go to exercise now? With correct planning the place should be an absolute Gold Mine not full of fools gold. Shame on them for lack of fore thought for the general Health of the Town

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Richard Rogers, says...
1:06pm Fri 24 Nov 06

For those affected by Wootton Bassett closing, ask the Liberal Democrat Executive Member at North Wilts District Council, Cllr Olivia Thomas (member for Wootton Bassett South), how she voted last night! Then take revenge in May next year at the polls!

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Ali Webber, says...
1:06pm Fri 24 Nov 06

This is an absolutely ridiculous decision! My children have swum at Cricklade for years and finding alternative swimming lessons for them is likely to be an almost impossible task!! Well done North Wilts District Council...!

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Suzanne Oliver, says...
1:13pm Fri 24 Nov 06

What a Tragedy !!!

I cannot believe that the local council would have allowed this to happen - how on earth are we supposed to keep our kids fit and healthy if there is no-where for them to swim or train? My family use the Lime Kiln Leisure Centre several times a week and are all members of the Otters Swimming club - where are the Otters Club members supposed to swim now? I cannot believe that in this day and age when the government is reporting more and more cases of child obesity that they are prepared to stand back and let things like this happen - bad management of the facilities is to blame and not the staff ! If the management company did not charge such huge fees and manage things so badly this would not have happened. Why can the local council not take one the responsibility ?

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Fran Tattersall, says...
1:37pm Fri 24 Nov 06

Outragous! We use Cricklade leisure centre all the time - the place is buzzing with activity. How will the children (and adults) of Cricklade learn to swim, play football, gymnastics and generally keep fit? Worst of all there has been no public consultation!

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Adrian Prim, says...
3:28pm Fri 24 Nov 06

Absolutely Disgraceful! What are the Wootton Bassett councillors interested in? Selling off the land to build more homes, whilst fighting against the integration with Swindon??? I will have to take my kids to Swindon for swimming and as we are in NW we are excluded from using a subsidised Swindon Card. Shame on all those councillors who think they are providing WB residents with a useful service.

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Phil Mann, says...
4:05pm Fri 24 Nov 06

Perhaps James Gray should raise the issue in Parliament.
It would be interesting to hear what the Ministers for Health / Sport / Education had to say about the closures.

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Nicki Watkins, says...
4:09pm Fri 24 Nov 06

We are really disgusted at this outcome.My children swim weekly at the centre and are really upset by the closure. We were glad when we moved to the area that it offered such good facillaties im not so sure any more.Shame on you councillors for not looking out for the yongsters in the area. What are the children supposed to do now.Be prepared for them haning around the streets that will be wrong to!!!!!!

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Inge Davies, says...
6:11pm Fri 24 Nov 06

Lime Kiln serves the local community - we have had no say in this decision. 11 schools use the facility for swimming lessons for all children. It is part of the national curriculum that all children are able to swim 25m. The council will now fail in its duty of care to our kids. What do the local schools and education authorities have to say? Lime Kiln car park is always busy and overflowing into the surrounding streets - is the centre not being used enough? Our future is unfit, unhealthy children and adults - never mind healthy school dinners that are being promoted by our government. Our council tax goes up well above inflation year on year - where is this going? Our council leaders clearly don't care about the community they purport to represent!! Happy to take the salary and not solve the problem.

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Emma Mann, says...
7:06pm Fri 24 Nov 06

I goto Lime Kiln, and I dont know what I would do if it closed. I enjoy doing the swimming, going to summer kids zone etc. Also, my sister swims there and she is upset that it might be closing because she goes there with her school. I would like Lime Kiln to stay open, because then I can enjoy more fun, games and activaties with my friends and family!

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Richard Ward, says...
7:18pm Fri 24 Nov 06

This country has growing prolems of child obesity, binge drinking and youth disorder. For a council to take such a decision to close it's "community " leisure centres shows just what they think of national and local issues.

You have not kept people informed or tried something to rectify the problem. I swim at Lime Kiln 3 mornings a week, I take my son to football there every Monday evening, I take my son and daughter there for tennis every Saturday morning. No information has been posted of the impending closure of the facility.

In 2012 this country hosts the Olympic Games - the greatest show on earth! What chance do our "otters" now have of representing their country.

You give planning permision for new houses in the area, taking developer money, put the local infrastructure at breaking point, then take away it's leisure facilities.

You are not fit to run a bath let alone a local council!!!

Angry!! Too right I'm angry!!!

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Karen Dykstra, says...
8:25pm Fri 24 Nov 06

Where are the children to go now? there is nowhere else! The facilities at Lime Kiln are over used not under used, with waiting lists for clubs and swimming lessons, trampolining and gymnastics. I am there 3-4 times a week with my children, as well as the youngest going with the school to swimming lessons. They are absolutely gutted at the thought of not being able to go there any more. Come on NWWL - wake up to reality and the needs of the local community which is ever increasing. We pay all our taxes which increase dramatically every year, so where is it all going?

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Phil Mann, says...
9:00pm Fri 24 Nov 06

Theres a great deal of sense being said here.
I think the council may have totally under estimated the response to the closures.
This page could act as a great way to petition those responsible.
If you post a comment here (or have posted already) why not also email your friends/family a link to the page:

www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/headlines/display.var.1040451.0.towns_pools_set_to_close.php

Get them to add their comments and then email a link to the page to their friends.
It might also be a good idea to CC in the following in the emails:

headoffice@nwll.co.uk

customerservices@northwilts.gov.uk

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don Scott, says...
10:43pm Fri 24 Nov 06

David McNally wrote:
What an absolute shambles. How on earth can we have such an incompetent district council. The council saw the writing on the wall when the trust was agreed back in 1999. The council simply cannot cut a subsidy by the amount they did and expect the facilities to remain open in what is such a competitive market. Short sighted and greedy Im afraid and I hope the district council are pleased with the legacy of this when children, elderly, disabled and general users cannot access leisure facilities without significant transport costs. Shame on you.

I was also on the link centre committee when they decided to sell-out. I said that a closure would happen one day, because private companies run for profit and not for the community.

I urged the council to carry on providing a service to the community.

With the forthcoming Olympics and reports on obesity, how can Government allow sport facilities to close.

The Oasis were contemplating going private, please look at North Wilts to see what a good idea it really is.

330 young swimmers and some old swimmers left high and dry, by a council who charge us a lot and provide a sub standard standard.

Instead of creating a super council let the people of Wootton Bassett pay for the services in WB rather than most of our money feeding Chippenham.

Devolution for WB not evolution for Chippenham.

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Alistair Aitken, says...
11:14pm Fri 24 Nov 06

It really is amazing that a council can make such a decision based purely on financial criteria (are they sponsored by Nintendo?).The Lime Kiln plays a vital role in Wootton Bassett that cannot be measured by profits alone. Besides the residents, schools and local clubs that actually use it, fewer people will provide passing trade to the town also.

I also find it hard to believe that the Lime Kiln is so radically different as a business to other municipal sports centres, or maybe other councils accept more realistically that crucial facilities may have to be subsidised. My experience is that the centre is well used (especially by myself and my 3 children), so why are the running costs so much higher than others? Have these comparisons even been made?

I am furious that I pay one of highest levels of council tax in North Wilts, and have not been consulted on how this money is prioritised.The quality of life for my family and many others in the Wootton Bassett area will deteriorate considerably if the centre is closed indefinitely. Central Government's plans for an elite sporting generation will be well represented in Wootton Bassett by obese, bored children hanging around on street corners intimidating others. Well done. What joined up thinking. I hope North Wilts will subsidise the hoodies.

I certainly will not be very compliant if NW do not consult more effectively next month.

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Matt Johnston, says...
1:07pm Sat 25 Nov 06

I took my son to his weekly swimming lesson at Lime Kiln this morning. I spoke to the chap on reception about the closure and he was gutted, I really felt for him. The rest of the staff where putting on a brave face but the atmosphere said it all.

There was a real sense of community between all the mums and dads. There is a lot harsh feelings about the closure. A photo shoot has been arranged on Sunday evening at 5.30 at lime kiln to show people that the centre should stay open.

Are the council not aware that there is a huge development going ahead in Bassett with hundreds of new homes and hundreds or new residents. They should be expanding not closing. Its not as if the centre is not used.

I pay council tax in fact I pay a lot of council tax and it makes me furious that something I pay for is being taken away. I assume I now get a reduction.

This is more than a kick in the teeth its like having your heart ripped out

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Gemma, says...
1:35pm Sat 25 Nov 06

I have been a member of Wootton Bassett Otters swimming club for 14 years and think it is an absolute disgrace for the council to even think about closing the leisure centre. All of the facilities used have been a stepping stone for people to compete at higher levels in their sport (myself included) and find something they have a love for as well as to meet new people and fulfil a part of their life. I think this decision should be reconsidered as it will be inconvenient for many to go to another leisure centre as well as for the swimming club to get any pool time to train. Isn't the government encouraging people (especially children) to do more exercise? By closing down leisure centres they are denying them of the right to do this in their local area. Not only this but employees will lose their jobs some of which have been working there for numerous years.

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Lucia Callan, says...
1:38pm Sat 25 Nov 06

I can only agree with all the comments made so far. I was at the pool today for my daughter's synchronised swimming lesson when I heard the news. It is such a vital component of our community and one we should not be deprived of. Why were the local people not involved in this decision?? I will be there tomorrow to show my support for Our Leisure Centre.

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Steve Dye, says...
4:13pm Sat 25 Nov 06

I am disgusted at the decision taken by NWDC to close Cricklade Leisure Centre (along with Wootton Bassett and Calne).
I am Chairman of Cricklade Youth Football Club. We have over 120 children and teenagers registered as players. We run teams from U8 to U16 level and last year we were the Wiltshire Charter Standard Club of the Year.

The closure of the leisure centre will have dire consequences for us. We can not find any suitable alternative training facilities - we have already looked into it.

Consequently our Club is facing a crisis which we may well not survive.

I am furious that this situation has been allowed to get to the stage we are now at. At this time when there is so much attention being focussed on healthy living and benefits to society of keeping fit and active I find it unbelievable that we are facing a situation like this.

NWDC are now going to be responsible for the destruction of scores of clubs and societies who have been dedicated to keeping children fit and active and giving them an alternative to hanging around on street corners.

What an absolute disgrace these councillors are!

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Ray Thomas, says...
4:22pm Sat 25 Nov 06

I do not believe any council should make these decisions purely on financial grounds. Where the council now get the money to pay for the increase in vandalism, poor health due to lack of exercise, and vacant sites that will sonn be dilapidated. I am disgusted with evry detail of these closures.

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Martin Young, says...
5:57pm Sat 25 Nov 06

This is a disgrace, all the local schools use the swimming pool in Wootton Bassett,and many also use the sports hall, soon there will be nothing else for the kids to do but hang around on street corners. We need to stand up and say NO to this. Get as many people as you can to be there at 5.30 tommorrow.

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allison lloyd, says...
11:08pm Sat 25 Nov 06

I think it is totally disgusting that we are under threat of losing our leisure centre at Lime Kiln. It has been part of my families weekly life since we moved to Wootton Bassett 7 years ago.
My eldest daughter currently uses the pool with Wootton Bassett Otters for her lifesaving sessions,and my youngest daughter attends the learn to swim sessions . She also swims with the school once a week.
To close this vital facility and deprive the local community is appalling where do they go now? I will be attending tomorrow in support .We can't let this happen!

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Michelle, says...
11:36am Sun 26 Nov 06

Just to add my agreement to everything thats been said. how can we get fitter and healthier if things like this are taken away.

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Adrian White, says...
1:00pm Sun 26 Nov 06

I am disgusted by this closure! My children have used the swimming pool for years, through the schools and going as a family. They now both regularly attend Tae Kwon Do at Lime Kiln. The place is always busy, how come this can be happening, if it isn't inept management by NWDC! I and my family will be there at 5:30 tonight.

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Cathy Emms, says...
1:21pm Sun 26 Nov 06

I am disgusted by the decision to close the Lime Kiln. As one of my children commented - it is her second home. Not only does it serve Wootton Bassett but also the surrounding towns and villages and if it closes not only will our children have no local leisure facilities but businesses in the town will also suffer. We can not allow this closure to happen. I will definately be there tonight.

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Dave Booth, says...
1:31pm Sun 26 Nov 06

What a farce! Where was the public consultation when this far-reaching decision was made? How will the children of Cricklade learn to swim now? Our local youth football club (CYFC) will now have no indoor changing facilities or training facilities, depriving over 100 boys and girls of their passion. When we first moved to Cricklade 18 years ago, the Centre was the thriving hub of the village. Incompetence and mis-management have now led to this.The government is warning us of a crisis of obesity in young people. And closing our local sports and fitness facilities is going to help? I'm seething.

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Alex, says...
1:56pm Sun 26 Nov 06

How irritating I use my lesiure centre all the time ! Out rages, I may be in school still but this is ridiculous!

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Dom White, says...
2:17pm Sun 26 Nov 06

I just like to add my comment to all of the above. I frequently go to the Lime Kiln, on Fridays swimming with my friends and on Sundays for Tae Kwon-do. If this was taken away from us, I would only be able to see my friends at school, as I do not live in Wootton Bassett, and not have somewhere to go where my parents are ok with dropping me off. And where is the "competition" that they have mentioned about? Where is the other swimming pools to contend with? There are none that are in the area of Wootton Bassett, only in Swindon. But travelling all the way to Swindon everytime I wanted to go swimming would cost double in petrol for my parents. I would rather my parents spent that extra spare money on the Lime Kiln to keep it open than the petrol to take me all the way in to Swindon

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Rory, says...
2:26pm Sun 26 Nov 06

This is bloody ridiculous. This should of bee sorted out long ago. I and my family regularly use the Pool and I know that Wootton Bassett Comprehensive will be without the extra facilities, such as Tennis and Badminton Courts that is so proud of. Not only will this ruin our children sporting futures, but over 11,000 people will suffer in the local community.

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Kevin Pamphilon, says...
2:39pm Sun 26 Nov 06

I am absolutely astonished by this announcement. Wootton Bassett Cricket Club have booked the Sports Hall at Lime Kiln for a total of 38 hours in February and March 2007, 30 hours of this is for coaching youngsters! We received the invoice for this booking only 10 days ago. If this booking is not honoured it will leave us high and dry with little prospect of being able to find an alternative centre in Swindon and nowhere else in North Wiltshire within reasonable travelling distance for the 40-50 children that are expected to attend these sessions. There are numerous people across all the clubs in and around Wootton Bassett who freely give their spare time to help local children develop in sport and they need this facility to be able to do this.

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Kevin Pamphilon, says...
2:40pm Sun 26 Nov 06

I am absolutely astonished by this announcement. Wootton Bassett Cricket Club have booked the Sports Hall at Lime Kiln for a total of 38 hours in February and March 2007, 30 hours of this is for coaching youngsters! We received the invoice for this booking only 10 days ago. If this booking is not honoured it will leave us high and dry with little prospect of being able to find an alternative centre in Swindon and nowhere else in North Wiltshire within reasonable travelling distance for the 40-50 children that are expected to attend these sessions. There are numerous people across all the clubs in and around Wootton Bassett who freely give their spare time to help local children develop in sport and they need this facility to be able to do this.

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maria wyer, says...
2:56pm Sun 26 Nov 06

This is ridiculous! How can we encourage children to stay fit and enjoy exercise if there is no leisure centre? All the courses at other centres run waiting lists, as does NW Leisure - it is criminal that it should have got to this stage. We ourselves use the centre for 4 separate activities, and will support moves against this closure.

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Fran Birch, says...
4:29pm Sun 26 Nov 06

this has been on the cards for months! Many of the children using Cricklade pool are not in a position to go further afield to swim and i guess it is the same for the other pools too.
with so many government targets for health it is very short sighted NOT to support a leisure facility in these areas.
As a postscript - hopefully if there is a way found of keeping it going, the staff at cricklade will value thier jobs and become a little more motivated!

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marianne Marmoy, says...
5:38pm Sun 26 Nov 06

They have demolished St.Ivel, they are moving Gerrard Buxton Sports Centre and W/B Rugby Club so that new houses can be built, what next???? The Police and Fire Station I'm sure they can build at least 5 houses on each site.

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Louis Samuel, says...
6:30pm Sun 26 Nov 06

I believe this is a disgrace! Why is it that the closure of Lime Kiln was kept hidden from all of us who live in the area and use the facilities? The magnitude of the closures and their devastating consequences to the people in the area, added to the speed and secrecy sorrouding them, should warrant a public investigation into the workings of a Council that can do such a thing and their reasons for it.

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Beth Emms, says...
6:58pm Sun 26 Nov 06

This is really upsetting, they are trying to tackle obesity by getting rid of half the leisure centres!!! I learnt to swim there and I really enjoy swimming. Me and my sister do at least 3 things there each week. What are kids going to do instead of going there,"hang about on the streets"?

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Celia, says...
7:38pm Sun 26 Nov 06

For a town, and especially school, that has such a bad drug problem, this is obviously a terrible idea.

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alex maynard, says...
8:13pm Sun 26 Nov 06

What will go in the place of lime kiln. there is nothing better to kep there other than a lesuire centre. the government should be ashamed of themselves, as closing down the lime kiln will be the equivalent of draining the centre of a proud and happy town!!

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Bob Staten, says...
8:26pm Sun 26 Nov 06

Having seen my three daughters learn to swim and gain confidence and enjoyment with the excellent Otters Swimming Club over the past few years, I have had the recent delight of watching my 6 year old son begin to do the same. After a shaky start, he has made rapid progress in the last month and we were looking forward to him mastering this vital skill over the next few years. He will also now miss his school lessons of course.
How dare the council make such mistakes and messily put a stop to such an important part of my children's development!
Where on earth are the hundreds of parents and children who appear every week meant to go now?!

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Phil Mann, says...
10:28pm Sun 26 Nov 06

What an amazing turn out tonight !
The council can now have no doubt that the decision to close the Lime Kiln is a huge mistake.
Lets see that same support again on Friday 1st Dec for the switching on of the Christmas lights.

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Nick Carter, says...
9:00am Mon 27 Nov 06

'Pledge 22' Improve Leisure Facilities - Well frankly if the council break this one - how can we trust them on their other pledges!!!

Cricklade Leisure Centre has been the hub for all sports in and around Cricklade certainly since I have lived there for 20 years.

It will make playing any sport in Cricklade hard and make the leisure centre and the fields a ghost town!

To give one months notice is frankly irresponsible - without a decent consultation period, how can the local people be a part of any recovery plan!!!

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Barry Taylor, says...
10:39am Mon 27 Nov 06

It is a sad and bad day when North Wilts District Council renege on pledges to the young, old, and disadvantaged people they purport to represent.
How they can reconcile Council Pledge 22 The council is working to promote healthy lifestyles for all ages through a range of facilities. As peoples lifestyles have changed so have their aspirations for leisure time. Work is taking place to encourage more participation involving sport and physical activities, especially involving the disadvantaged with the closure of half of OUR leisure centres?

Having been a user member of the Lime Kiln Centre advisory committee (2003-2005), it was always apparent that there was either not enough money being put into the centre or that NWLL were not managing those monies effectively. I believe the former is substantially true and recollect that even in those difficult times Lime Kiln was costing the council less than when they were running the facilities directly themselves.

My children, my wife and myself (both as children and as adults) and have spent many hundreds or thousands of hours enjoying the facilities at the leisure centre. We have largely moved on but still see the leisure centre as a resource for us and the local community, managed by our councilors for the benefit of the community, and paid for by the community. It cannot be reasonable for the executive committee of OUR district council to close OUR facilities without OUR consultation. Perhaps, simply having healthy children and adults or providing national representatives at swimming, Taekwondo, rugby, etc is not something our council feels is necessary; perhaps at this time I feel the same way about them!

Please, please, there must be a way to stop this madness!

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MARK ROSHIER, says...
10:40am Mon 27 Nov 06

If we are not allowed to loose football/rugby/cricket pitches due to SPORT ENGLAND how can we be allowed to loose a Leisure Centre.

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Kean, says...
11:25am Mon 27 Nov 06

Agree with all the comments above. I'm sure a few weeks ago I saw on local SW nwes that Oxfordshire was providing FREE swimming to children. I fully agree we MUST keep local pools and encourage everyone to use them and have a NATIONAL policy of supporting sports and leisure and make as much as possible free for children to use to keep them fit, active and off the streets.

I couldn't make the Sunday as my son was won a Table Tennis tournament at Cirencester - I'm sure al the swimming he does at Lime Kiln helps his fitness.

There IS money in the councils stop wasting it on stupid projects provide better sevices that affect people.

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Mike Airey, says...
12:37pm Mon 27 Nov 06

The Lime Kiln is part of the Community in Bassett - I can't believe the short-sighted approach of our Council in wanting to close it without any public consultation. Please, please let us have a consultation on this so the people who own it - the taxpayers - have a say!

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Sheila Woods, says...
1:57pm Mon 27 Nov 06

This is just another decision made without ANY consideration for the people who will be affected. We are suffering the consequences of complete incompetence by Senior Management! In the Private sector most people accept that if mistakes are made in a company then harsh decisions have to made, but this is a facility for the COMMUNITY...not everyone can afford to use facilities at Private Health Clubs and where are the Otters going to train? As mentioned previously the Government are constantly reminding us that there is a generation of children who are heading for obesity and we need to encourage them to become more active!!! This obviously doesn't apply to North Wiltshire. What about 2012, how can we continue to encourage young people to get involved in sport if we do not have accessible facilities. Finally, what about the staff at the centre, they have worked hard to try to keep Lime Kiln going and to continue to make it work, despite lack of funds and support from the management. This is a disgrace and we need to continue to protest about this until we succeed - SAVE LIME KILN!

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Peter Stieglitz, says...
4:04pm Mon 27 Nov 06

Wootton Bassett has the highest council tax in North Wiltshire. What do we get? A part-time police station an now no sports facilities.

NWDC motto: "Improving North Wiltshire". JOKE!

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Matt, says...
9:05pm Mon 27 Nov 06

I think NWDC have seriously underestimated the anger that they have caused. I was showing my support at Wootton Bassett on Sunday night and what struck me was the pure passion of everybody there. Sunday night was just the start.

You need to go to www.writetothem.com and write to your MP, councillors etc to show them we will not roll over and accept this.

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Sam Argent, says...
4:16pm Tue 28 Nov 06

This is by far the stupidest thing the district have ever thought about doing, even the Prime minister moans that 'what is becoming of todays youth', well if the district councils contine in this way, closing down one of the only facilities for young people in the community, then this country really will have a problem, with both unhealthy and bored children.

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gina cooke, says...
4:19pm Tue 28 Nov 06

Why should the local community suffer due to management incompetancy?
Cricklade Leisure Centre is an integral part of Cricklade both for Adults and Children alike.
With the advent of the Olympics, what message is being given to all those locally who may have been inspired to start a new sport and have had the opportunity snatched from them?
NWDC this is disgraceful!What happened to Sport for All??

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Alison Sturla, says...
5:24pm Tue 28 Nov 06

What I should like to know is where will those who voted for the Lime Kiln's closure be sending their children/grandchildren when they want to learn to swim, trampoline, play badminton, train for cricket or football...

The Lime Kiln is part of our wonderful community here in Wootton Bassett. If it is taken away from us people may think twice about coming to live here and then we'll be saddled with empty houses as well as empty shops. My family and I will be out protesting on Friday evening (before going to my son's swimming training!).

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Howard Chandler, says...
5:53pm Tue 28 Nov 06

As a past chairman of the Otters, back in the 80s, I can only wholeheartedly endorse all of the above comments. It has been a delight to watch the Otters go from strength to strength.
All those who have put the effort into those achievements don't ask much from their council but they do deserve a council that has the ability to deliver its self declared pledges.
NWDC have forgotten who raised the money for the pool; the residents of Wootton Bassett.
How about "Pledge 22" as a campaign title?

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Paula Nash, says...
11:14am Wed 29 Nov 06

The Lime Kiln centre is a large part of our community in Wootton Bassett, I am outraged that the centre could close without any public consultation.The Government want to encourage healthy living...how can we do this when these sports facilities have been taken away from us!

My two children use the facilities atleast five times a week.They belong to the Otters swimming club and will be devastated if the club is forced to close.

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Helen Brown, says...
11:41am Wed 29 Nov 06

I am absolutely disgusted by this decision - the very fact that there has been no time allowed for consultation with users of the centres is appalling. The very fact that the decision will have a detrimental effect on the lives of all in these three areas is apparent, but I feel saddened and ashamed that it will be the youth that suffer the most. A tragic and disgraceful decision.

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Graham Mann, says...
5:14pm Wed 29 Nov 06

This decision is a disgrace, and the lack of consultation and communication despicable and shows the regard our Council has for those it is supposed to serve. The children of Wootton Bassett, along with those in Calne and Cricklade,are as deserving of the right to learn to swim, participate in sports, keep fit and do something worthwhile with their lives as the children in Chippenham and elsewhere. Access to local leisure facilities is a right and should not be determined by a postcode lottery . The Lime Kiln centre in Bassett might not make as much profit as the one in Chippenham, but that is not the point. Woottton Bassett is a sizeable and growing town and our children especially deserve the right to swim and play sports in their local leisure centre. Of course the Centres should be run efficiently (and it is not our fault if that has not been the case) but they should not be treated as profit centres. They are a vital community facility and should be funded as such. I fully expect and am happy that my Council Tax should be used to subsidise and fund my local leisure centre and I demand that NWDC reverse their decison immediately and find a way to maintain the Lime Kiln and other Centres. Do not let them get away with this- contact the Council leader, our Councillors, MP and others to let them know how we feel.

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Jacqueline Ford, says...
8:14pm Wed 29 Nov 06

The Sports Hall has been opened since we moved to Wootton Bassett over 30 years ago, and has been a going concern for many years eventhough Wootton Bassett was then a very small town.

How can you possibly consider closing it now that the town is expanding further and the need of the children greater?

The new school was built without a new Sports Hall on the understanding that they could rely on the present facilities? How can you justify closing the sports Hall now and let all those young people down, plus the 11 other schools who rely on the facility, and all of it without consulting the community who depends on it and who voted for you?

Doctors recommend that adults and children alike should take more exercise. Where do you suggest we should all go for it? Maybe we shall get our exercise walking to the voting booth for the May elections.

The seriousness of closing such an important facility calls for an investigation as to where our rates go.

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Lynne Porter, says...
12:31pm Tue 12 Dec 06

I am a user of Cricklade Leisure Centre and agree with what has been said about all three leisure centres. May I also add that there has been no statement from North Wilts yet about the huge number of refunds for annual membership etc that they will owe - if the centres close I have a good mind to take them to the Small Claims Court and hope many others will join me.

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Vinny, Cheshire says...
9:58pm Mon 4 Jun 07

I think it disgrace. I got a parking ticket for the same fing man and my fish van was only sparking a taxi for the aldood brothers. Why should I pay? If I can stand up and launch a gr8 revolution then Gus can do so too so God help me. I am paying you thanks you ver much and hope you well. Vinny

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