Council faces revolt in swimming pools row

Council leader Yvonne Gagen narrowly survived a vote of no confidence over the issue

Councillors have survived a no confidence vote by opponents objecting to the possible closure of two swimming pools and the future provision of other leisure amenities.

However, three Labour West Lancashire councillors have become independents amid "anger" over the Park Pool in Ormskirk and Nye Bevan Swimming Pool in Skelmersdale facing being shut.

One told a full council debate that any closures without replacements being built would be a "betrayal of both towns". 

Protesters, including from Ormskirk Otters swimming club, gathered outside as the meeting took place earlier this week.

Council leader Yvonne Gagen and Carl Coughlan, who has a leisure services remit, were singled-out in a "no confidence" motion by the Our West Lancashire (OWL) group, the Local Democracy Reporting Service has said.

The OWL motion was narrowly defeated by 23 votes to 21.

Former Labour councillors Neil Furey, Paul Hogan and Kerry Lloyd all confirmed they had left the Labour party to become independents over the plans to close the pools, and had supported the no confidence motion.

Furey said, despite having been a Labour councillor for 16 years, he "could not possibly support such plans".

He added: "This would be the ultimate betrayal of Ormskirk and Skelmersdale.

"People are up in arms, including teaching staff and governors. There must be alternatives."

Lloyd said she had resigned the Labour whip "in response to an ill-thought through approach to consultation and engagement with the public about the financial decisions the council has to make" - one of which was the closure of the pools.

Hogan said the closures of the swimming pools was the primary reason for all of them leaving the party, but that each of them had additional and differing reasons influencing their decisions.

NYE Bevan Pool in Skelmersdale is one of the two swimming pools under threat

The motion came amid controversy about the pools' futures, a recent public consultation by West Lancashire Council and the backdrop of a new budget due next year.

One idea is to close the two existing pools before any replacements are built, saving costs.

The council wants new design ideas after two recent blueprints were said to have become unaffordable as development costs have risen by £17m.

Above-ground steel pools options could be cheaper.

No decision has yet been taken.

West Lancashire Council has been contacted for comment.

It has previously said it remained committed to investment in its leisure facilities after approving £3m of funding for the refurbishment of Burscough Wellbeing & Leisure Hub, which will open to the public early next year.

It also said the authority was continuing plans to build two new "state-of-the-art" leisure facilities within the borough.

A petition has gathered more than 6,000 signatures so far to stop the closure of the two swimming pools.