WARRINGTON South MP Sarah Hall has turned up the pressure on the Prime Minister over the town’s ageing infrastructure – demanding action on both Warrington Hospital and Broomfields Leisure Centre.
Speaking directly to the Prime Minister during today’s Prime Minister’s Questions, Ms Hall warned that Warrington has grown dramatically but too much of the infrastructure supporting its population has been left behind.
She highlighted the stark reality facing Warrington Hospital, pointing out that much of the hospital was built in a different century for a considerably smaller population.
And she raised the increasingly desperate situation at Broomfields Leisure Centre, which she described as being “at the end of its life”, with its swimming pool now closed on safety grounds.
Ms Hall challenged the Prime Minister to come to Warrington, meet with her and set out how the Government intends to deliver the infrastructure and services the town needs.
The Prime Minister responded by describing Warrington as “something of a jewel in the northwest crown” – and offered to meet with the Warrington South MP to discuss the town’s infrastructure.
Ms Hall has now made clear that she intends to take him up on that offer.
The Warrington South MP says she will use the meeting to put both Warrington Hospital and Broomfields firmly on the Government’s agenda and make the case for investment.
She said the fact that the Prime Minister grew up in Warrington means he knows the town and its challenges particularly well.
Ms Hall said: “The Prime Minister grew up in Warrington, so he knows our town well. When he called it a jewel in the North West crown today, I couldn’t agree more.
“I’m so proud to call our town home, and I wouldn’t want to raise my young family anywhere else.
“But people back home know we need better infrastructure and services. Warrington has grown enormously over recent years, and too much of what we depend on hasn’t kept up.
“Being proud of our town doesn’t mean keeping quiet about that.”
Her intervention puts the spotlight firmly back on the condition of two major Warrington facilities.
She said Warrington Hospital was designed for a much smaller population, while Broomfields now faces the consequences of years of deterioration, with its swimming pool closed because of safety concerns.
“Much of Warrington Hospital was built in a different century for a much smaller population,” she said.
“Broomfields is at the end of its life, with its swimming pool now closed on safety grounds.
“That’s why I raised both directly with the Prime Minister today.”
And she issued an unequivocal warning that she intends to keep pushing for answers.
“I will be taking the Prime Minister up on his offer to meet with me and I’ll be discussing both Broomfields and Warrington Hospital with him.
“I’m not going to be quiet about this.
“I’ll keep banging on the door of Number 10 for Warrington, and I’ll continue to keep my constituents updated along the way.”
The Prime Minister’s offer of a meeting now puts the ball firmly in the Government’s court – with Warrington’s ageing hospital infrastructure and the future of Broomfields set to face direct scrutiny at Number 10.
