ANSWERS are being sought over the future of Broomfields Leisure Centre following a public meeting over the latest pool closure to impact council-run LiveWire leisure centres in the town.
Warrington Conservative Deputy Chair Political Jack Thwaites has called for answers after speaking with concerned residents following this week’s public meeting on the swimming pool closure.
Following the meeting at St Mary Magdalene’s Community Hall, Mr Thwaites spoke with residents about the closure and what should happen next.
He welcomed Cllr Sharron Harris and Cllr Judith Wheeler’s involvement and plans to establish a new, non-political Friends of Broomfields community group, but criticised the absence of Appleton’s Liberal Democrat councillors.
Mr Thwaites said:“I had some very constructive conversations with residents following the meeting. There is real concern about Broomfields but also a determination to fight for its future.
“I was pleased to see Cllr Sharron Harris and Cllr Judith Wheeler taking an active interest. It was disappointing, however, that the Appleton Liberal Democrat councillors didn’t attend to hear residents’ concerns first hand.”
Mr Thwaites also questioned what has happened to £725,991.74 of Section 106 developer contributions specifically connected with Broomfields, recorded in Warrington Borough Council’s Infrastructure Funding Statement.
The contributions include £140,510 from Pewterspear Green, £349,149.93 from Appleton Cross, £172,819.09 from Grappenhall Heyes and £63,512.72 from Stretton Road/Appleton Thorn, with £57,028.12 of the latter recorded as prior expenditure.
Mr Thwaites said:
“Section 106 funding is legally restricted by the individual planning agreements, so this isn’t about claiming all £725,000 could have repaired the current problem.
“The important question is why, with substantial funding available for qualifying improvements to Broomfields, those improvements weren’t delivered sooner. Residents deserve to know what remains, what it can be spent on and when it will be used.”
Mr Thwaites also challenged local Liberal Democrats over their criticism of Warrington’s Labour administration.
The Liberal Democrats’ own published statements confirm they supported the council’s budget proposals in 2023 and Labour’s proposed 4.98% council-tax increase in 2024. Their 2024 statement also acknowledged they had not prepared an alternative budget.
Mr Thwaites said: “The Liberal Democrats cannot support Labour’s financial framework and then present themselves as innocent bystanders when things go wrong.
“If Labour’s priorities were wrong, why did they support those budgets? More importantly, what did our local Liberal Democrat councillors actually do to secure investment in Broomfields while substantial Section 106 funding remained reserved?”
Broomfields’ need for investment was already well established. In 2022, the council included proposals for a new 20-metre swimming pool, changing facilities and fitness suite as part of its £47 million Levelling Up Fund bid.
Mr Thwaites concluded: “Broomfields should ultimately be about the community, which is why I fully support the creation of an independent, non-political Friends of Broomfields group.
“But that doesn’t remove the need for political accountability. As Deputy Chair Political of Warrington Conservative Federation, I will continue asking where the money has gone, what our councillors actually achieved and what will now be done to secure Broomfields’ future.
“Residents deserve answers and Broomfields now needs action.”
A Liberal Democrat spokesperson said: “We’re pleased to see support from across the political spectrum for the Friends of Broomfields group, and we agree it should remain resident-led and non-political, that’s exactly the spirit in which Cllrs Harris and Wheeler have approached this from the start. The Appleton councillors had prior commitments that evening and we don’t disclose the personal diary details of individual councillors. The meeting had to be held at this time as the pool is closed at the busiest time of the year, but the Councillors have been fully briefed on the meeting and are engaged on this issue.
“On the wider questions raised about Section 106 funding, this was raised in the meeting and a detailed response given. Monies were spent on the sports hall floor, as that gets the most use.
“With regard to council budgets, we’ll respond once we’ve reviewed the figures being referenced, rather than getting into a rushed exchange in the press.”
The Broomfields pool closure follows on from the ongoing issue at Woolston Leisure Centre which closed following a legionella issue and other structural problems.
As a result there has been capacity issues at Orford Jubilee Hub which has also experienced recurring pool closures and maintenancwe problems, including a major pump and filtration replcaement in 2024.
Warrington Borough Council has also been asked to cmment further.
Yesterday Cllr Jean Flaherty, Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Leisure, said: “We understand how disappointing this news will be for swimmers, clubs, schools and regular users of Broomfields Leisure Centre. We know how important the pool is to many people in the community and we are sorry for the disruption this closure is causing.
“It’s our priority to understand the extent of any remedial works as quickly as possible, so that we can plan to address the issues with the ceiling.
“The safety of everyone who uses the facility must come first. We are working closely with specialist contractors to understand the full extent of the issue and to ensure that all investigation and repair work can be carried out safely. The scaffolding installation is an important step in allowing a full assessment to take place, and we will keep residents and users updated as soon as we have more information to share.”
