A Lib Dem councillor says the Conservatives should not forget the role people power played in securing Lichfield’s new leisure centre.
The new facility at Stychbrook Park will be the long-term replacement for Friary Grange Leisure Centre.
Planning permission has now been granted for the development which will feature a swimming pool, outdoor sports pitch, gym and studios.
But Cllr Paul Ray, leader of the Lib Dem opposition group at Lichfield District Council, said he was “flabbergasted” to see Conservative representatives welcoming the new centre.
“At the recent meeting of the council, the Conservative cabinet members applauded the new leisure centre which is moving forwards and has now got planning permission. But they did tell the full story.
“I am flabbergasted. Don’t get me wrong, I am delighted about the new centre – but let’s not forget what happened in 2019.
“Cllr Pullen and his Conservative group of councillors made a decision to close the Friary Grange Leisure Centre without any commitment to build a replacement.
“Then what happened was a huge community campaign led by residents and various councillors, including myself. That forced the Conservatives on Lichfield District Council to change their decision.
So it was people power that made sure we have a new leisure centre. It’s important that we don’t forget that.”
Cllr Paul Ray
Cllr Doug Pullen, Conservative leader of Lichfield District Council, said his Lib Dem counterpart was seeking to claim credit for the work of others.
“Once again, Cllr Ray seeks applause for achievements that he has played little to no part in.
“As leader of a new administration in 2019, I was provided with a letter from the then CEO warning me that any spending on a new leisure centre would put unsustainable financial pressure on this council.
“After recruiting a new chief executive and working hard to be a better council, we are finally in a position to invest £10million in a brand new leisure centre, while most other councils around the country are looking to reduce their leisure provision.”
Cllr Doug Pullen
…“Once again, Cllr Ray seeks applause for achievements that he has played little to no part in. Cllr Doug Pullen
Of course he played a part in it, as did I. …a huge community campaign led by residents and various councillors. So he’s not wrong to say…
…So it was people power that made sure we have a new leisure centre. It’s important that we don’t forget that.” Cllr Paul Ray
And let’s not forget the part Cllr Checkland played. He openly admitted that as a Governor of the Friary school believed that by getting elected he would be able to influence decisions within. Okay, so he subsequently resigned but nevertheless he wanted to become a Cllr to serve a school rather than the interests pf a whole community and he would still have had the interest of the school at heart once he was elected.
Politics! What a dirty game it is.
I think the point that Cllr Pullen is making here is the hard bit is actually making the Leisure centre happen. Getting the council to a financial position where it was possible to spend 10 million pounds on a new facility is the hard bit to do. I don’t think it takes much imagination to realise that fixing a councils finances and getting the correct team of people to create such a great facility is a lot harder than what Cllr Ra did which was merely to shout from the sidelines asking for a new facility. In my book thats the easy bit! I am no political support of any sides, but I do think we should give credit where credit is due.
In other words it’s really easy to ask for something. Making it happen is a lot harder!
So the leisure center is to go ahead, despite the opposition of local residents, so we have to endure quite a lot o pending disruption to our lives to accommodate it .Shame on those councillors who wanted it, anyway the general election will tell.
Pullen tried to sneak the closure of the Friary Grange Leisure Centre through until people power forced him to change course and agree to a replacement.
@John C – that isn’t exactly true. Cllr Pullen went to the public meeting at Curborough Community Centre. He listened, and he could have been roasted by 100-150 people present. He stood up and he explained and he listend.
Since then he’s personally driven it forward.
It;s a good project.
Don’t get me wrong, I can’t stand him. He’s a proper Tory. Still, he’s done alright here.
Considering the opposition of curborough road residents, looking at the planning application there are no letters of objections from residents.
@John C, now you know that isn’t true. He wasn’t the leader of council when the leisure centre was closed. He reversed the decision to close and committed to building a replacement. Cllr Ray is trying, desperately, to be slightly relevant. He didn’t make the new leisure centre happen. Cllr Pullen and the other members of cabinet have worked to ensure they have the funding to deliver it. It’s very easy to stand on the sidelines and demand the world like Cllr Ray seems to do, it is another matter entirely to ensure the funding to make projects like this happen. @Curborough Rd Resident. How can any council make the people happy? People clearly wanted a new leisure centre, other people don’t want it, some want it as long as it causes disruption to other residents’ lives. I think you need to reflect and be thankful you live in an area where the cabinet member dealing with finances is actually quite good at their job and the council is in a strong financial position…
Well Jonneo, I have been to and seen on YouTube many sessions of the planning committee. I have yet to see the letters either for or against discussed. In fact the stance is that legislation does not oblige the committee to consider them. After all these are largely corporate decisions, why involve the public?
There have been objections from the day this started by residents including over 400 signing a petition but as always non of these incompetent Councillors listen or engage with affected residents including all the local wards which includes the Cllr in this article. Seems they are all only interested in themselves. Questions will be asked when they run out of money for all these deluded schemes.
Have I missed something? The reserves are going to pay for the cinema? Council expenditure is £12-13m. So where is the £10m coming from since levelling up grants are a non starter.
Is this money that is going to be borrowed? 15% further cuts are planned for local government between 2024 and 2029 so council income is going the wrong way.
Remember a full spec leisure centre with all the facilities is £22.5m such as in Coalville. So be aware people you are not getting a full leisure centre at all.
https://www.nwleics.gov.uk/pages/leisure_centres_project
£10 million sounds alot but it really won’t be enough to establish anything pioneering. Prepare for yet another disappointment from this woeful council and team of planners.