CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save Woolston Hub have handed Warrington Borough Council’s executive team a formal Notice of Procedural Risk, accusing them of pushing ahead with closure plans without basic financial evidence.
The move comes after a shock admission during Monday night’s Cabinet meeting, when pressed by the Save Woolston Hub campaign, Council officials admitted on public record that they “do not have the internal capacity” to calculate how much closing the Hub will cost other vital services, such as adult social care and the NHS.
Campaigners say this “data gap” means that the Council cannot prove the closure offers value for taxpayers’ money.
A spokesperson for the campaign said: “If the Council cannot do the maths themselves, they must look to National experts. Official data from Swim England and the Local Government Association shows that every £1 spent on community leisure saves the public purse £4 in health and social care costs. Ignoring a 400% return on investment makes absolutely no financial sense.”
The campaign also highlighted the severe impact the closure would have on Warrington’s most vulnerable residents. Woolston Hub acts as a safe, predictable, and low-sensory environment for children with special educational needs (SEND). Families argue that vulnerable people cannot simply be expected to travel to unfamiliar, loud, and large-scale leisure hubs like Orford Jubilee—a site residents say is currently struggling with severe capacity issues.
Pointing out a stark contradiction in Council policy, campaigners noted: “Just last week at the budget meeting, Cllr Matthews promised the Council would focus on protecting the most vulnerable. Yet, forcing children with complex needs to travel out of their safe, community space and into unfamiliar, high-intensity leisure centres does the exact opposite.”
As Monday’s meeting concluded, campaigners submitted a formal “Notice of Procedural Risk” to committee officials at the head table. The document, addressed to the Monitoring Officer and Interim Chief Executive, identifies 20 adopted Council policies that the current closure plans contradict.
The handover was observed directly by the incoming Chief Executive, Sarah Smith, who was seated at the table.
“Residents are simply asking for the evidence,” the campaign spokesperson added. “We have brought this massive data gap to the attention of the executive team, and the incoming Chief Executive has now heard these admissions first-hand. With the right data and available government grants, fixing the Hub will prove far cheaper for the taxpayer than the long-term, hidden costs of closing it.”
A Warrington Borough Council spokesperson said: “A decision on the future of Woolston Neighbourhood Hub has not yet been made, and all necessary/relevant information will be shared with members at the appropriate time to ensure an informed decision.”
The Notice of procedural Risk can be read by CLICKING HERE
Woolston Hub has been closed since last year following an issue with legionella in the water supply and other issues, including rotting floors and a leaking roof.
The council has estimated it would cost £3m to reopen the facility – money they say they haven’t got.
1 Comment
The Save Woolston Hub committee is committed to ensuring that any decision regarding the future of our community infrastructure is based on robust, transparent data.
As reported, we have formally submitted a ‘Notice of Procedural Risk’ to the Council’s Chief Executive. Our primary concern is the current ‘Data Gap’ in the decision-making process. While the Council has identified a need for budget savings, they have not yet published the financial modelling for the ‘downstream’ costs this closure would create for local NHS pathways, Adult Social Care, and SEND services.
National data from the Local Government Association and Swim England shows that every £1 spent on community leisure saves the public purse £4 in preventative health and social care. Without modelling these impacts, the Council cannot fully demonstrate that closing the Hub represents ‘Best Value’ for the taxpayers of Warrington.
We are simply asking for a pause to allow for a full, evidence-based review that takes into account the needs of our most vulnerable residents—especially those with neurodivergent needs who rely on the Hub as a safe, low-sensory environment. We look forward to a constructive response from the Council leadership