Revealed - Labour to Close Clapham Pool and Leisure Centre

6.18.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 19th Dec 2007

The Clapham Leisure Centre as it is before Labour agree it should be demolished.

On Thursday 20 December, the Labour Cabinet met in secret to decide the future of the Clapham Leisure Centre. The decision they took was be behind closed doors locking out local people and all the paperwork on options was marked "Confidential".

This extract from the Labour's Communications Plan reveals the truth - that the Clapham Leisure Centre is to close and be demolished.

But Liberal Democrats are able to reveal two documents that they believe show that Labour are going to CLOSE CLAPHAM LEISURE CENTRE for up to 2 years - even though they promised not to. This speculation comes eighteen months after Labour abandoned plans that would have seen continuity of leisure and library services.

Not a design for a new Tescos but architect's plans for a replacement leisure centre - on the same site as the current one

Lib Dems have always argued that Clapham deserves better leisure facilities. They proposed that a new leisure centre should be built and opened before the old one closed. But now it appears from these documents that Labour are going back on their word and closing the pool - just at the same time they are closing the Streatham pool, closing the pool at Stockwell Park school and abandoning plans for a new leisure centre in the north of the Borough.

"Last Thursday we argued that to take such a big decision in secret is wrong," said Liberal Democrat Group Leader Cllr Ashley Lumsden.

"We demanded that the public be consulted about any loss of valued services. And we won't be gagged by Labour councillors determined to cover up their hypocrisy."

Liberal Democrat Councillors revealed the evidence they've put together on Wednesday 19 December. The first document is a Council Communications Plan which shows that Labour will close the Clapham Pool in the Summer of 2008. The second is a document from an architect bidding for the contract. It shows a brand new building where the existing pool is today and means the whole area could be a building site for years.

"If Labour don't accept our calls for open and transparent consultation then we will call-in their decision and demand a public hearing in the new year," added Cllr Lumsden.