THE Save Woolston Neighbourhood Hub campaign group has welcomed what it describes as a long-overdue opportunity for genuine dialogue with Warrington Borough Council – but says residents now expect answers, transparency and action.
Two council-run engagement sessions were held recently to discuss the future of the community facility, with campaigners saying the meetings represented a significant change from previous attempts at engagement.
Independent facilitation was used alongside Claire Hogan, Executive Director for Transformation and Improvement on secondment from the Local Government Association, with council officers acting as neutral facilitators.
According to Save Woolston Neighbourhood Hub co-chair Laura Bather, Claire openly acknowledged that previous engagement had not been good enough and that mistakes had been made.
But campaigners remain frustrated that officers directly involved in the Hub’s closure were not available to answer some of the more detailed questions surrounding technical, safety and financial issues.
Laura Bather said: “The key message from the community was not simply that we want the Hub reopened at any cost. It is that we want the Council to properly understand the full value of the Hub, be transparent about the true costs, actively explore ways of funding its future, listen to the community and staff, consider the needs of those who cannot access alternative facilities, and work collaboratively to find a sustainable way of safeguarding its future.”
Campaigners also challenged the argument that alternative leisure facilities elsewhere in Warrington provide an adequate solution.
For older residents, people with mobility difficulties, families without cars and those dependent on public transport or lifts, travelling elsewhere can create a significant barrier.
The group also called for former and existing Hub staff to be fully involved, highlighting the experience of managers with more than 30 years’ collective knowledge of the building, its facilities and its users.
A major theme emerging from the sessions was the possibility of a phased reopening, with campaigners strongly advocating the immediate reopening of the dry-side facilities where this can be achieved safely and economically.
They also backed a “Building Open, Pool Open” approach, arguing that smarter programming could maximise the use of the swimming pool – including running swimming lessons and public swimming simultaneously, reinstating group changing facilities and bringing back weekend lessons.
Campaigners say the Hub should be viewed not simply as a financial asset but in terms of its wider contribution to physical health, mental wellbeing, social connection and swimming provision for children.
They also want the council to investigate alternative funding sources, including external grants, partnerships and potentially unused Section 106 funding, rather than placing the financial burden entirely on the community.
Three possible futures
The sessions also explored different governance models, including:
Full council ownership and reopening
A hybrid partnership model
A community-led Community Interest Company (CIC)
Campaigners argued that the previous LiveWire CIC model should not automatically rule out a community-based structure, saying the lessons were more about management and operational culture than the CIC model itself.
They pointed to the Salford Community Leisure model as an example of how a proactive approach to programming, customer feedback and commercial opportunities could potentially work.
The campaign also raised questions over access to the building for its own technical experts and engineers, while the council has cited its statutory health and safety responsibilities.
The council is expected to release new facility costings and independent building assessments shortly, with a formal report setting out viable options expected within six to eight weeks.
The community is then expected to be invited to comment on those options before final decisions are made.
Laura Bather said the campaign would continue to press the council to honour its commitments.
“We will continue holding the council to their promises to continue to engage meaningfully, correct the mistakes of the past and push for full transparency, accurate costings and genuine collaboration,” she said.
The campaign says the message from Woolston is clear: the community wants its Hub protected – but it also wants a realistic, financially sustainable plan for its future.
