Bill Rammell MP - Swimming Pool update

I am writing to you as someone who has contacted me in recent weeks to express concern about the situation at the swimming pool and the decision by the Council, taken last week, to permanently close it.

I should make clear that this was a Council decision – it is not a decision I have been involved in and it is not a decision I support.

Throughout this process, in my discussions with the Chief Executive of Harlow Council, I have made clear that I have serious concerns about the way in which the matter has been handled, about the way in which the building has been maintained, and the way in which the users of the pool have been treated.

Last month, in order to assist users, particularly those associated with the Penguins Swimming Club, I organised a meeting with the Council to discuss these issues. Since then I have had several further meetings with key officers and the Joint Leaders to discuss the findings of the technical report setting out the health and safety concerns and the work that would need to be done on the building. I remain unhappy with the responses I have received. For your information, attached is a copy of the letter that I sent to the Council’s Chief Executive before last week’s Environment and Community Committee, asking a number of important questions about the process that led to the decision to close the pool, initially on a temporary basis and then following last week’s committee meeting on a permanent basis. I have also attached the Chief Executive’s response.

I know from speaking with some constituents that there is a little confusion about what exactly the Council did decide last week. Therefore for clarity, I have set out their decision below. The Council resolved that:

The swimming pool be permanently closed with immediate effect;

The swimming pool site be disposed of as soon as possible in accordance with the Gateway scheme proposals;

The feasibility be urgently investigated of entering into an agreement with another supplier for the provision of swimming at another location (or locations) for all residents of Harlow who wish to swim at the same cost to the swimmers per session as would have been charged at Harlow pool, for the necessary transport of those swimmers and the associated administration and accounting, including a profit element for the supplier;

a Working Party be established to establish the true chain of events that led to the closure of Harlow pool, the causes of those events and the responsibility for those causes.

I myself have made clear to the Council that they have a moral responsibility to users to do everything possible to facilitate alternative provision for swimmers in the town. I remain concerned that all users have not yet been appropriately provided for – including school swimmers – and I continue to monitor this situation. If you or your swimming group has not been assisted by the Council the key officer to contact is Lynn Seward on 01279 446119. If you do not receive a satisfactory response, please do not hesitate to contact me again.

I also believe that the setting up of the Working Party is an important development in light of the ongoing concerns – which I share – about how the situation at the pool has been allowed to develop. I will continue to keep an eye on progress here through my regular monthly meetings with the Chief Executive.

Finally, I have also made representations to the Council seeking compensation for the Penguins Club in light of the impact that the pool closure had on their annual Gala plans. I will continue to lobby on this issue and seek to ensure that the issues of financial redress for the Penguins, and financial support to enable swimmers to continue at other locations, is dealt with by the Council as quickly as possible.

Researcher / Political Officer
Office of Bill Rammell MP
020 7219 3443 (Westminster)
01279 439706 (Harlow)
www.billrammell.com

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