Sport minister 'will not resign for following process' over pool

The Southern Swimming Pool is one of three facilities run by local authorities

Due process was followed in the decision to recommend a community pool should close, the sport and culture minister has told the House of Keys.

Julie Edge defended the Department of Education, Sport and Culture (DESC) decision after a solution was found to keep the Southern Swimming Pool open.

She also dismissed a call for her resignation over the recommendation, following objections from the public.

Ms Edge made a statement on the revised decision in the House earlier.

The DESC previously said it intended to seek Tynwald approval to shut the Castletown facility due to shortfall in subsidies for regional facilities.

However, a "survival plan", presented by local politicians and the pool's board, was later accepted by the department to preserve the existing £434,000 annual subsidy and continue its operation.

'Thorough analysis'

Tim Glover, the Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK, called for her to resign over the department's turnaround.

However, she said there had not "actually been a U-turn", adding that the department had "followed all due process".

"I'm not going to resign for following governance process," she said.

An annual government subvention of about £1.7m is paid to sustain the sites run by local authorities in the north, south and west of the island.

A report from DESC and the Department of Infrastructure stated the Southern Swimming Pool was running at a £220,000 deficit.

That was disputed by the pool's board and members questioned the accuracy of the report in the House of Keys.

Fellow Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK Jason Moorhouse suggested it had been based on "narrow financial analysis", which was echoed by Rushen MHK Michelle Haywood.

Ms Edge said she was confident the analysis was correct, as it had been collated by a steering board with information provided by pool boards.

She said the facility's uncertain future was "counterbalanced" with plans for a six-lane pool for Castle Rushen High School, which was due to be completed by 2029.

She added that her department would undertake financial analysis with all of the island's pool boards and she would report back by June.

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