Plea over value of Shrewsbury swimming pool site rejected
Shropshire Council has rejected calls to publicise the value of the Quarry Swimming and Fitness Centre, claiming the focus should be on a consultation over swimming facilities.
The council's deputy leader, Councillor Steve Charmley, was responding to demands from Councillor Alan Mosley, leader of Shrewsbury Town Council.
Councillor Mosley had said the information should feature in a consultation on where swimming facilities should be based.
However, Councillor Charmley, who is also the council's cabinet member with responsibility for leisure services, said there had been no discussion over the value of the land as part of the review.
He said: "The cabinet paper that has provided the remit to undertake the work to date – July 2014 – did not include any work activity around the land and its value, that the Quarry swimming pool occupies.
"Of greater importance is to listen to the views of the public on the options for improved swimming facilities for Shrewsbury and for these to then be considered by cabinet later in the year."
Councillor Mosley had said: "What I am concerned about is that the value of the Quarry site if it were to be sold for alternative development may well be a key factor in the decision-making process."
The future of the Quarry pool is currently the subject of a public consultation being carried out by Shropshire Council. Four of the seven options for the future location of Shrewsbury's swimming pool would see it move from its current town centre site.
