Council to debate closure of four pools

A move which would see four swimming pools close across the Bradford district as new facilities are built is to be debated by all of the local authority’s councillors.

Last month, Bradford Council’s executive gave permission for a business case to be completed into the programme which would provide a new city centre sports facility and three new community swimming pools but that would also involve disposing of the existing Richard Dunn Sports Centre, Bowling, Bingley and Queensbury pools.

The decision is now to be referred to a meeting of the council after being called in for consideration by Coun Andrew Mallinson, the chairman of the authority’s regeneration and economy overview and scrutiny committee.

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After debating the issue for two hours, councillors unanimously agreed to send it to the council so it may be debated by all elected members.

Coun Mallinson said: “All of the councillors on the committee decided this was a big enough issue for the whole of the Bradford district and therefore needed debating by all 90 councillors. The 90 councillors can debate it and give their recommendations but it still has to go back to executive for a final decision.”

Members of the committee had three options when they met to discuss the decision. They could have decided that the original decision stood, referred all or some of it back to the executive for reconsideration in light of its comments, or referred it to full council for consideration.

It has been said that the proposals are forecast to save the council £1.7m a year in running costs.

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The original report for the executive proposed a new city centre facility and three new pools in the south, north and south-west of Bradford.

It said that “a new city centre swimming pool with a network of new community swimming pools would allow for re-provision and improvement over currently provided facilities”.