WITHIN 24 hours of Warrington Borough Council announcing a consultation exercise on the possible closure of Woolston Neighbourhood Hub, more than 1,300 people have joined a campaign group to save it.
Yesterday, Tuesday, Warrington Borough Council announced it was holding a six-week public consultation on the future of Woolston Neighbourhood Hub, which is facing permanent closure.
The announcement sparked immediate controversy, as the statement was released before some elected members of the council had even been informed.
The hub – a multi-purpose facility housing a swimming pool, leisure facilities, library, a GP surgery, and community organisations – has been partially closed since July and fully closed since September. The “temporary closure” was triggered by a combination of factors, including structural concerns and the presence of Legionella bacteria in the water supply. Despite comprehensive flushing and disinfection efforts, recent testing has confirmed that Legionella remains present.
The council estimates that the full cost to repair the hub and bring it back into safe, operational use is approximately £3m. Given the escalating budget pressures, the council is unlikely to be able to afford the repairs and is therefore considering the future options for the site.
The consultation will run until Friday, 2 January 2026. The feedback gathered will be crucial in helping the council shape the future of the hub.
Now, residents and local Cllrs have rallied to set up a campaign group on Facebook, which has attracted over 1,300 members in the first 24 hours.
Local Tory Cllr Rob Tynan said: “Woolston Hub has been shut for too long and now the Council is saying repairs are too expensive. This means our community could lose its local library, swimming pool, gym and meeting rooms for good. We say: enough is enough.
“Woolston deserves its Hub back. Fully open and fully serving local people. That’s why we’ve launched a petition to protect this vital community space.
Add your name today www.savewoolstonhub.uk
One of those joining the campaign group is former local Cllr. Alice Froggatt, who said: “As a resident of Woolston for over 56 years, I represented the Ward at Borough Council and Parish Council level for many years. I retired from both, 25 years ago. I was an active representative and always available to residents. I am still so proud of our massive achievements myself and colleagues made back in the day. Please contact your local representatives and MP, urging them to support our fight to keep Woolston Hub.
Lib Dem Borough Cllr. Sharon Harris said: “I’m really worried about what’s going on here and the implications for residents from all over Warrington.
“I found out about this through Facebook – as a Borough Councillor, I am shocked that there appears to have been no discussion with councillors before going straight to a consultation process.
I welcome the consultation – I’ve filled it in but the quality of the questions are very poor and not probing. It feels as though it is a cynical process to say they’ve consulted residents before moving to closure.
“There are implications for leisure centres in other areas in Warrington – ie Broomfields.
“There are also serious implications for library services, which are also under threat across the Borough.
“I know that the Council has very serious financial problems and is under great pressure to reduce their debt but transparency and due democratic processes should not be sacrificed.”
The Facebook campaign group was launched by local resident Rachel Holden, who said: “This group is here to bring together everyone concerned about the possible closure of Woolston Neighbourhood Hub.
“Please use it to share any important updates, information, petitions, or community news that can help protect this vital local facility. The more we share and stay informed, the stronger our voice becomes. Invite others to join and post anything useful to support the campaign.”
Meanwhile, to take part in the consultation, please visit warrington.gov.uk/woolston-hub-consultation and complete the survey. Following the consultation period, all feedback will be considered, before a final decision is made by the council’s Cabinet.
