Lib Dems breathe new life into Wellesbourne Leisure Centre project

3.22.03pm GMT Wed 26th Nov 2008

Nigel Rock PPC with Cllr. David Close in Wellesbourne

Wellesbourne's plans for a new Leisure Centre, controversially cancelled by Conservatives on Stratford District Council, were given a kiss of life this week when Liberal Democrat councillors forced a fresh debate on the issue. Now local Lib Dems are challenging the Conservatives to think again and restore the project, which has major support from Wellesbourne residents.

Although planned some time ago, and with the project ready to go, the planned Leisure Centre was cancelled in September when local Tories claimed there are insufficient funds available because of the credit crunch. Now Nigel Rock, Liberal Democrat candidate for the new parliamentary constituency of Kenilworth and Southam, which includes Wellesbourne, and himself a district councillor, hit on the idea of asking central government for capital funds as part of its plans for reviving the economy.

And to force reluctant Tories to consider the matter again, Nigel used a rule of Stratford District Council that allows 15 councillors to demand a fresh debate and vote within six months of the failure of any motion before Council. With the support of the rest of the Lib Dem group on Stratford District Council and two Independents, including two of Wellesbourne's three elected representatives, Nigel Rock easily got the required 15 signatures, and the matter will be put to the vote a second time on Monday 8th December.

'This seems a good way forward, if only the Conservatives will agree', said Nigel Rock. 'With central government on the look-out for local capital projects, we must be in with a chance of getting this much-needed Leisure Centre back on track. I've asked the Lib Dem spokesmen in the House of Commons for help in persuading Ministers to find the funds. We'll see if the Labour government's talk can be backed with action for South Warwickshire. However, if Stratford's Tory majority still refuses to back it, for their own reasons, it will still fail.'

David Close (Lib Dem Councillor for Wellesbourne) said 'This project has been discussed for over last thirty years, and everything was in place to get started. Would Wellesbourne people have elected a Conservative councillor in the 2008 elections had they known that as soon as the election was over the Conservatives would ditch the Leisure Centre?'