Sunday, October 15, 2006
15/10/2006 City Area Committee say Old Swimming Pool site should be retained for leisure use
15th October 2006
At Salisbury City Area Committee on Thursday night (12th October 2006), the Committee discussed the consultation exercise to consider the future of the old swimming pool site. Cllr Paul Sample (one of the two members for St Edmund Ward) said:
“My own view is that Wyndham Park was bought for public leisure use and it should be retained for public leisure use. The park was bought backing the 1920s, to provide leisure and recreation for people in the City. Over the years, there has been a lot of public concern over the future of Wyndham Park. In the 1970s there was a big dispute over the building of the swimming pool, and particularly the fact that the Council wanted to use some of it for car parking space. In the end, it was argued that by building a swimming pool, it could be retained for public leisure use. I think there is a strong moral argument for saying that this site should be retained for recreational purposes – as City fathers intended.”
Cllr Sample then moved that “This Committee favours the retention of the Old Swimming Pool site for leisure and recreational use.”
Several Conservative Councillors spoke against the motion. Sheila Warrender argued that St Edmunds was already very lucky to have such a lot of leisure facilities and parkland. She favoured the use of the land for offices or housing for older people.
Cllr Culver, the Cabinet member for the Office project, said that by coming to a view, the Committee was prejudicing the outcome of any future discussion on the use of the site. The Conservative Group asked for a recorded vote to be taken.
Several members of the Labour Group spoke in favour of the motion, including Cllr Clive Vincent and Cllr Steve Fear. Cllr Sample's motion was then put to the vote. All of the Conservative Councillors voted against the motion. Labour and Liberal Democrat Councillors voted for the motion, which was carried.
Afterwards Councillor Sample said: “I am delighted by the vote. The City Area Committee has spoken very clearly in favour of retaining the land for leisure and recreational use and I am confident that this will be the overwhelming view of local residents. The land is probably worth £2 - £3 million land if it is developed for housing – but you can’t put a price on the value of parkland for future generations. I just hope the Conservative will listen to what local people are saying, this time, and call off plans to redevelop the site.”
At Salisbury City Area Committee on Thursday night (12th October 2006), the Committee discussed the consultation exercise to consider the future of the old swimming pool site. Cllr Paul Sample (one of the two members for St Edmund Ward) said:
“My own view is that Wyndham Park was bought for public leisure use and it should be retained for public leisure use. The park was bought backing the 1920s, to provide leisure and recreation for people in the City. Over the years, there has been a lot of public concern over the future of Wyndham Park. In the 1970s there was a big dispute over the building of the swimming pool, and particularly the fact that the Council wanted to use some of it for car parking space. In the end, it was argued that by building a swimming pool, it could be retained for public leisure use. I think there is a strong moral argument for saying that this site should be retained for recreational purposes – as City fathers intended.”
Cllr Sample then moved that “This Committee favours the retention of the Old Swimming Pool site for leisure and recreational use.”
Several Conservative Councillors spoke against the motion. Sheila Warrender argued that St Edmunds was already very lucky to have such a lot of leisure facilities and parkland. She favoured the use of the land for offices or housing for older people.
Cllr Culver, the Cabinet member for the Office project, said that by coming to a view, the Committee was prejudicing the outcome of any future discussion on the use of the site. The Conservative Group asked for a recorded vote to be taken.
Several members of the Labour Group spoke in favour of the motion, including Cllr Clive Vincent and Cllr Steve Fear. Cllr Sample's motion was then put to the vote. All of the Conservative Councillors voted against the motion. Labour and Liberal Democrat Councillors voted for the motion, which was carried.
Afterwards Councillor Sample said: “I am delighted by the vote. The City Area Committee has spoken very clearly in favour of retaining the land for leisure and recreational use and I am confident that this will be the overwhelming view of local residents. The land is probably worth £2 - £3 million land if it is developed for housing – but you can’t put a price on the value of parkland for future generations. I just hope the Conservative will listen to what local people are saying, this time, and call off plans to redevelop the site.”
