Shrewsbury campaigners to hold Shirehall protest over Quarry swimming pool move

The Quarry Fitness and Leisure Forum, which has been calling for the Quarry pool to remain open, says it is arranging a protest to take place ahead of next week's meeting of Shropshire Council's cabinet.

Forum chairman Bernard Wills said they would continue to make their voice heard.

He said: "We will be asking questions of the cabinet members at Wednesday's meeting and protesting outside Shirehall before the meeting.

"They have not taken any notice of the consultation which showed the majority of people wanted the pool to stay at the Quarry. They just don't care what the people of Shrewsbury want."

Shropshire Council announced that it will be recommending closing the Quarry pool and building a new facility at Shrewsbury Sports Village in Sundorne.

However, it is also giving community groups and other organisations 12 months to come up with alternative plans to keep the pool at its current location.

The recommendations are expected to be approved at the cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

The Quarry Forum is part of a group including Shrewsbury Town Council and Shrewsbury Business Improvement District which is attempting to develop a plan for the Qaurry to remain open.

However, Mr Wills said he is not confident that the authority will accept their proposal.

He said: "To be honest we will do it but I am certain they will say 'no, it does not meet the requirements, it is moving to Sundorne'. They are just not listening and they do not want to listen."

George Candler, Shropshire Council's director of place and enterprise, said that the council would listen and is keen to give groups the chance to develop their plans.

He said: "We have worked hard on this over the last two years and come forward with and in-principle decision, however we know there is a strength of feeling out there to keep the pool where it is. We like to think we are listening to that which is why we are prepared to give some time, up to 12 months, for those groups to do that."

Stuart West, Shropshire Council's cabinet member for culture and leisure, said the plans would be judged against council criteria.

He said: "Any proposals put forward would need to meet the council's vision and priorities for swimming provision in Shrewsbury. They must provide a long-term swimming facility that's affordable to run both now and in the future, must increase participation in swimming and physical activity, and must be complementary to other leisure facilities in the town."

The council's cabinet report concludes that renovating the Quarry or building a new pool on the same site would cost £12.8 million or £10.9 million respectively.

It states that a new build at Shrewsbury Sports Village would cost £9 million, with a potential for £3 million of funding available, leaving the council to find £6 million, potentially through borrowing.

Mr Wills has been critical of the way the options considered have been appraised, claiming costs were added onto the Quarry site with the inclusion of an underground car park in the plans.

He said: "They have added the costs of putting an underground car park at the Quarry and no one has asked for that."

The council also insists there is no plan for what might happen to the Quarry Swimming and Fitness Centre site if the facility closes.