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# Leader says nothing has changed on promises made over future of leisure provision in Lichfield
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/council-leader-says-nothing-has-changed-on-promises-made-over-future-of-leisure-provision-in-lichfield/
- Published: 2022-02-07T15:52:15.000Z
- Updated: 2022-02-07T15:52:27.000Z
- Description: Nothing has changed on promises made on the future of leisure provision in Lichfield, the leader of Lichfield District Council has said.
- Author: Lichfield Live
- Tags: Politics, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 19:15, News

Nothing has changed on promises made on the future of leisure provision in Lichfield, the leader of Lichfield District Council has said.

![Swimming lesson](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/swimming.jpg)

Councillors have raised concerns that the local authority is changing the narrative around a long term replacement for Friary Grange Leisure Centre at Stychbrook Park amid concerns over funding for the facility.

Cllr Iain Eadie, cabinet member for leisure, suggested £5million pledged by the council for the project could be spent on provision across Lichfield rather than in a single location.

It led to Cllr Joanne Grange, independent member for Chadsmead, to suggest the local authority was trying to “weasel out” of promises made to campaigners during a public meeting at the Lichfield Garrick.

![Cllr Doug Pullen](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/bigpic-22.jpg)

Cllr Doug Pullen

But Cllr Doug Pullen, leader of the council, insisted the goalposts had not been moved.

> “Nothing has changed at all on our leisure plans.  
>  
> “We made two promises, one to spend £695,000 to keep Friary Grange open for at least five years and another to commit £5million for a new pool and leisure facilities.”  
>  
> Cllr Doug Pullen, Lichfield District Council

Cllr Pullen added that suggestions the council should spend money to keep the facility at Friary Grange open rather than build a new centre were a non-starter.

> “At the time Friary Grange’s closure was proposed it was because the renewal of the lease would not have been financially viable as we would have been a tenant.”  
>  
> Cllr Doug Pullen, Lichfield District Council

The Stychbrook Park location has been earmarked as the preferred location for a new centre.

But Cllr Grange said that given the strength of feeling on the need for a new leisure facility there needed to be more reassurance for residents.

> “The centre bit in leisure centre is critical – it suggests it’s one place.  
>  
> “Cllr Pullen should get Cllr Eadie to clarify his quote about the Active Living Strategy defining how the £5million is spent on capital projects.  
>  
> “Can we believe there will be a new leisure centre when he’s talking about plural projects?”  
>  
> Cllr Joanne Grange, Lichfield District Council