Lib Dem MP calls for ‘budget lifeline’ to support Axminster pool
Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s debate, Mr Foord is aiming to highlight the difficulties faced by local leisure centres due to rising energy costs and the squeeze on people’s incomes caused by the cost of living crisis.
The Flamingo Community Pool in Axminster is run as a not-for-profit charity rather than the local authority - and is therefore at greater risk from financial shocks. This issue has been exacerbated by essential maintenance to the substructure of the Flamingo Pool which has led to it being closed temporarily.
This pressure is also being felt by other local facilities, such as Tiverton’s West Exe Paddling Pool which has recently been saved from imminent closure following a strong local campaign against the decision.
Richard Foord MP is calling for the Chancellor to help avoid further closures by offering a broader package of support for leisure and sports facilities which will help these businesses get through to the summer.
Commenting, Richard Foord said:
“Our local sports and leisure facilities have been some of the hardest hit, first by the pandemic and now the ongoing cost of living crisis. With eye-watering energy bills and growing maintenance costs, it’s no wonder that places like the Flamingo Pool are struggling to get by.
“We recently saw the West Exe Paddling Pool saved from imminent closure, but this only represents a temporary relief. We need a more long-term plan to ensure these facilities remain open, including greater financial support for sports centre facilities that use high levels of energy – like swimming pools.
“The Chancellor has a golden opportunity to do this on Wednesday in his spring budget. We know he has some money left in the envelope because of energy costs coming down quicker than expected, and I want to see him use this money to a lifeline to these spaces.
“We also need to see additional help for local authorities. These are the bodies who fund many of our facilities and yet have been left floundering in a sea of rising costs by the Government’s refusal to help them mitigate the difficult financial situation.
“It’s unacceptable that local people are seeing their Council Tax rise by the maximum allowed and yet will still see painful cuts to local services because the Conservatives have so far refused to step in. This must change.”