West Lancashire pools saved with £1.2 million funding

Two popular community swimming pools in West Lancashire have been saved from closure. Park Pool in Ormskirk and Nye Bevan in Skelmersdale were at risk after the council proposed to shut them down. A council meeting held on February 26 intended to close the pools by March 31. However, many residents opposed this decision. A public consultation showed that 67% of respondents strongly disagreed with the closures, while another 21.5% also disagreed. Opposition councillors voted against the closure plans, securing short-term funding for both pools. They also called for repairs to ensure the facilities can remain open for the next five years. On March 14, the council approved an £18 million budget for the year 2025/26. This budget includes £1.2 million specifically for the two leisure centres. Despite this funding, the council is still facing financial difficulties due to long-term government funding cuts and rising costs. Councillor Mark Anderson noted that further income generation or service cuts may be necessary in the future to maintain a balanced budget. The proposal to close the pools started in October 2024 as part of a broader review to address the council's financial issues. Over the years, the council's funding has decreased by 92% since 2010. Some councillors suggested replacing the pools with new "wellbeing and leisure hubs." This proposal faced strong backlash from the community, including a petition with over 6,000 signatures urging the council to keep the pools open. In response to public pressure, some Labour councillors broke party lines to support a review of the pool's future. A vote of no confidence in council leader Yvonne Gagen and Lead Member for Leisure Carl Coughlan was proposed but narrowly defeated. Local schools and residents emphasized the importance of the pools for community well-being.