One year to save Shrewsbury's Quarry swimming pool

Shropshire Council has fired the starting gun on a process that will allow organisations to develop their own management and funding plans to either keep the Quarry pool open, or to build a new town centre facility.

The decision was taken by Shropshire Council's cabinet at its meeting at Shirehall yesterday, where it also confirmed its desire to close the Quarry pool and build a new one at Shrewsbury Sports Village in Sundorne.

That decision goes against the motion passed last month where it was agreed not to state a preferred option until it had viewed alternative bids.

Potential conflict of interests

There was also controversy as members of Shrewsbury Town Council were advised not to take part in the debate because of a potential conflict of interests.

Councillor Hannah Fraser, who represents the Abbey ward on both Shropshire and Shrewsbury Town Council, said the advice had the effect of 'gagging' councillors.

She said: "I am really quite cross about it. We were told because Shrewsbury Town Council may or may not be putting forward a bid to run the service, and we are Shrewsbury Town Council members, potentially we have a conflict of interests.

"But at this time we have not put in a bid but the council's monitoring officer was adamant we would be opening up Shropshire Council to a legal challenge from another provider if we were to speak on it."

During the debate, Councillor Roger Evans, leader of the council's Liberal Democrat group, had said that the council should practice what it preaches and work with groups attempting to come up with plans to keep the pool in the town centre.

He said: "This council is saying it wants to do things in partnership with town and parish councils across Shropshire but this paper says groups need to go it alone, put a full business case in and if you put a business case in you cannot be involved with Shropshire Council."

He added: "It is flawed and finance driven entirely and in total disregard of what the community wishes."

Councillor Stuart West, cabinet member for leisure, said that the council would welcome anyone who can provide a way of managing the pool that meets the authority's standards.

He said: "They will be taken very, very seriously indeed. If there is a way of keeping it at the Quarry that meets all the criteria and terms of reference why would we not look at it."

Business cases must now be submitted by September 29 next year with a final decision expected in December.

The Quarry Forum, Shrewsbury Town Council, and Shrewsbury Business Improvement District have all said they will work on a potential plan for keeping the pool in Shrewsbury's town centre.