Save Woolston Hub campaigners quiz council cabinet members

TWO members of the Save Woolston Hub campaign have put questions to Warrington Borough Council’s cabinet following another large demonstration in support of the facility.

Laura Bather and and Judy Brown, co-chairs of the campaign, attended a cabinet meeting last week to ask questions on estimated repair costs, health issues, etc.
Councillors were asked to “examine their consciences” and say, hand-on-heart whether they had done everything in their power to consider the facts, technical solutions that had been submitted and funding avenues that were available before making a final decision.
The consultation on the hub’s future has now concluded with more than 3,700 responses received as well as hundreds of pro-hub emails.

Campaigners turned out in force, accompanied by Warrington Wolves’ mascot Wolfie and a calypso band.
Among the questions asked were why safe areas of the hub had not been opened which, the campaigners claimed, could have been done at a fraction of the costs quoted by the council.
Chris Kearney, the campaign’s technical advisor, the £3 million pounds quoted in the council’s consultation document was not accurate.
He said for every £1 spent on leisure, £4 was saved on social care.
Campaign co-chair Judy Brown said: “We fully understand the financial pressure that the council are under, but we genuinely feel that demolishing a hub that is so well used will cause more problems in the future than it solves in the present.
“Woolston received less subsidy than three other Warrington leisure centres last year. It has the potential to do much better, and it was subsidised by only about £1 per head of population, representing excellent value.
“It will save far more money than that in health and social care costs. Swimming saves the economy an average of £4.4million per constituency per year so removing 40 per cent of the water space in Warrington North makes no financial sense, quite apart from all the misery it causes.
“The hub makes people safer around water, makes people fitter and healthier, they socialise, they have a sense of purpose and achievement. There’s also an established link between swimming and higher educational achievement, and lower crime rates. In short, the hub delivers in spades ! It’s benefits are priceless.”

Wolfie campaigning at the town hall