Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant has confirmed he will not be at a meeting to decide the future of Friary Grange Leisure Centre – but says he is backing campaigners fighting to save it.
Thousands signed a petition forcing a review of plans to shut the city’s last public leisure centre.
Lichfield District Council will make a decision at a special meeting of the Cabinet being held at the Garrick theatre tomorrow (7th October).
Mr Fabricant said that although he would not be there, he hoped a way to save the centre would be found.
“Unfortunately, I have to be in Westminster on Monday evening,” he said. “I am on a Parliamentary committee passing a law on airline competition post-Brexit as well as other legislation.
“But the council know I strongly support the need to keep a public swimming pool in the city and I have discussed this both with the Council and with The Friary School.
“I will continue to stay in close contact with Cllr Doug Pullen [leader of the council] regarding this and have asked that he apologises for me and explains the reasons for my absence from the meeting on Monday evening.
“Doug and I think as one about this issue so I am hoping for a positive outcome.
“I know that the council has been negotiating hard with the county council who own the facility and with The Friary School on whose grounds it is situated.”
