Blackburn with Darwen defends £2.9m athletics track project amid leisure cuts (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Blackburn with Darwen defends £2.9m athletics track project amid leisure cuts
4:06pm Friday 30th July 2010 in
More stories about: Shadsworth Leisure Centre
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- By Tom Moseley » Reporter
COUNCIL bosses have defended the decision to spend £2.9million on an athletics track - while closing down a popular leisure centre.
Protestors fighting to save Shadsworth Leisure Centre said it was a ‘kick in the teeth’ that the cash was being spent on revamping the athletics facilities at Witton Park.
According to Blackburn with Darwen council, Shadsworth is losing more than £300,000 a year.
It is set to close after being included in the town hall’s £4million cost-cutting plans for this year.
At the same time, the investment in Witton Park - which is mostly coming from council funds - is to continue.
Leisure and culture chief Trevor Maxfield claimed the overall cost of the scheme had been reduced by £250,000 since it was first proposed.
He said: “The decision to create new facilities at Witton Park was made last year, and funding was committed then.
“The investment will add new facilities to the borough to support sport at all levels.”
The new facilities, which will provide spectator space for 400 people, changing facilities and an indoor running track, will be used by Blackburn Harriers.
Meanwhile, the future looks bleak for Shadsworth Leisure Centre, which provides much-needed sporting facilities for people on the estate, one of the most deprived in the borough.
Terry Moorby, who is leading the campaign, said: “It’s all about priorities.
"They seem to be able to find £2.9million for an athletics track but not £300,000 for Shadsworth.”
Comments(20)
safetyman
says...
5:35pm Fri 30 Jul 10
I can think of a lot better things to spend £2m on.
Witton park is not used by everyone, so lets hope we don't all pay for it in increased council taxes.
Council should look at ways of running shadsworth liesure centre to break even, as not everyone can get to Witton park, and there is no swimming pool at Witton
ste.g
says...
5:42pm Fri 30 Jul 10
mr plod wrote:The new facilities, which will provide spectator space for 400 people, changing facilities and an indoor running track, will be used by Blackburn Harriers.
Whilst it is true there is a gulf of difference between £2.9 million for witton and £300k for shadsworth the fact is Shadsworth leisure centre is losing 300k a year. In other words why plug a leaky bucket when you can spend a bit more and buy something new and more useful. Witton Park is a jewell in the borough's crown with new play facilities and fantastic parkland areas. The athletics facilities are top notch and this investment will place us on the map. Shadsworth meanwhile is in need of repairs, leaks money and is not even up to the standard of two other leisure centres in the borough. It is a no brainer at a time of dwindling resources. You have to ask yourself, if the centre is so popular why is it losing money? Perhaps it is only popular because people are using the facilities for free.
got to agree mr plod,but to spend 2.9million for blackburn harriers seems a bit excessive.so for everyone to enjoy these facilities they will have to take up running?
i think not.
under the present financial conditions i woulshave thought this project would have been put on the back burner and use the money somewhere else.
tenerc
says...
5:46pm Fri 30 Jul 10
what planet are you on, an indoor race track is just that a race track, 1 or 3 things for an elite group, not to be used by the whole community.
Shadsworth… swimming, football, cricket, basketball, tennis, badminton, squash, gymnastics, dance, martial arts, yoga, keep fit, gym, aerobic, rooms to rent.
Now which is more usefull?
why not build the new track at shadsworth on the vast amount of open land around it, improve the centre, and then kill 2 birds with one stone.
whereistedward
says...
5:51pm Fri 30 Jul 10
mr plod wrote:All the Borough leisure facilities lose money. King George's Hall loses £480,000. Museums lose £460,000. The leisure sites (leisure centres etc) lose £1.7m. Festivals & events lose £146,000. Libraries lose £3.4m. Parklands loses £910,000.
Whilst it is true there is a gulf of difference between £2.9 million for witton and £300k for shadsworth the fact is Shadsworth leisure centre is losing 300k a year. In other words why plug a leaky bucket when you can spend a bit more and buy something new and more useful. Witton Park is a jewell in the borough's crown with new play facilities and fantastic parkland areas. The athletics facilities are top notch and this investment will place us on the map. Shadsworth meanwhile is in need of repairs, leaks money and is not even up to the standard of two other leisure centres in the borough. It is a no brainer at a time of dwindling resources. You have to ask yourself, if the centre is so popular why is it losing money? Perhaps it is only popular because people are using the facilities for free.
The reality is, is that if these services are not subsidised then folk will not pay the true cost and the facilities will close. £10 to use the Library ? £6 for a swim ? £5 for a walk in the Park ? £7 to go in the museum ? £300k for Shad is relatively small beer !
Why not scrap other things such as the Neighbourhood Boards, extra Councillor positions, monies for the 'youth zone' etc ??
Mr Moorby is right - it is about priorities, - the Council has not prioritised Shadsworth !
Brian Todd
says...
6:18pm Fri 30 Jul 10
I would be surprised if the upgrading of Witton Park came out as more valuable to the residents of Blackburn with Darwen than the retention of the Communiy Centres! The four in question today are very likely to be followed by others.
PLEASE REMEMBER THESE DECISIONS ON MAY 2011 WHEN YOU RE-ELECT YOUR COUNCILLOR!!!!
Ian K
says...
7:24pm Fri 30 Jul 10
Did you really mean "Re-elect" , or "Choose a different one"?.
your granny
says...
7:54pm Fri 30 Jul 10
amazed
says...
12:06pm Sat 31 Jul 10
As I suspect that you are a BwD Councillor, I trust that you have expressed your anger at this scheme going ahead and Shadsworth being closed? This council is arrogant and will not take any notice of its ratepayers. Why should so much money be spent at Witton for a minority when popular services are being slashed and closed? This is a scheme that could be deferred until times are easier. It is said that the money has been already allocated. Well it is possible to re-allocate it in view of the cuts being imposed on the council. So do it and satisfy the majority and not pander to some minority. We can protest but it will be to no avail.
woolywords
says...
3:02pm Sat 31 Jul 10
Is my math quite right here, or what?
Shadsworth loses £.3m
Witton gains near £2m
Which part of stupid, am I living in?
Given that the people whom live in Shadsworth, have nothing and the people of Witton can afford trampolines in every other house.
Iread a book once, it stated, give to them that deserved it most..
in the same book, give to them without counting that are with need..
this creates a dichotomy, those that want, over greatest need..
Forgive me, peoples of Witton, but which would you rather have, well rounded, confident and persoins with aspirations, or just another sink-hole estate?
Just where would that money be, best spent?
Again I ask, which part of stupid, am I living in?
woolywords
says...
3:21pm Sat 31 Jul 10
If I were elected, then pledged, upon my honour, to retain Shadsworth, would the peoples of Witton, given the prospect of free bus passes, support this place?
Sadly not, because Shadsworth has an evil reputation, that only those within that area can resolve.
Peoples of Shadsworth have but two choices, band together, to drive out that evil within you..
or move.
I am neither Shadsworth, nor Blackburn, would you support me, in creating a new reputation for that estate?
Am neither left nor right, just a man, prepared to lay down my life, to give your children, a better than **** future.
Nobody else will go that mile.
l m h jones
says...
4:21pm Sat 31 Jul 10
your granny
says...
7:33pm Sat 31 Jul 10
time.team
says...
10:13pm Sat 31 Jul 10
Was wondering when somebody else would realise where all those never ending facts and figures come from.
The sadness is that same person destroyed them!
dragonfist2
says...
1:32am Mon 2 Aug 10
Although spending the money on a sports track is not silly,what is wrong with the one they have? There are enough buildings at witton to create a changing room.
What a great idea from one of the contributors about making the running track at shadsworth! There are already changing rooms and showers there and even a pool!
Just a thought....Many of the children who come to our classes at Sudell tend to be excellent sports people in their local schools due to the fact we do cross country and fitness training as part of out usual lessons and even represented Blackburn in Schools competitions so how can you justify looking after one group and not the rest? I think BWD Council are soon to be seen as a Council that descriminate when preaching otherwise! Facilities for all, not just a chosen few!
WittonPark
says...
9:20am Tue 3 Aug 10
But I am also a user and fan of Shadsworth Leisure Centre.
In reality the 2 issues have to be separated.
I first used Shadsworth back in the early 80s - I lived in Rossendale at the time and the astro-turf pitches were the draw.
I have used it lately for the gym facilities, my daughters also for the gym and swimming.
It has been very busy lately - I often struggle to park there which suggests that many users are travelling to the facility.
It will be sad to see it close, but I have had a look at the new centre in Darwen and will more than likely end up there.
Of course it may feel a bit personal to the people of Shad, that they are losing their leisure centre. But in fact it is a leisure centre for the people of BwD and used by people from all over the Borough and indeed from outside.
If we were to keep the centre open for the people of Shad, would we then need to build a similar centre for the people of Mill Hill? Of course not.
The centre loses 300K per year - probably not the issue really - all leisure facilities need Council support. The issue will be the millions required to refurb.
I do think BwD Council could have handled the Shad situation better though - they do not seem to have communicated very well on the matter. I am confident that in the next few years the people of BwD will look at the Leisure facilities overall and see they are better.
We have several school building projects coming on stream - they all will include some leisure facilities which will be available to the public in the same way that St Bedes, Darwen Vale etc are.
In terms of the development of Witton Park, this is an ongoing process.
Look at the fantastic play area that has just been opened. We have the Visitor Centre, the woodland trails constantly being developed.
We really do have some fantastic parls in the area and it is great to see them used so well.
Suggestion that the track development can be put up at Shad are misguided. You have to remember that the track is already there at Witton - the cost to replicate at Shad would be at least double what is being spent at Witton.
If you read the article on the Witton Development, it is clear that this facility will be used by the whole Borough's schools. The headline users will of course be the Harriers, but the current facility is already used by many of the secondary schools and that should only be enhanced by the new development, perhaps opening it's use up to more of the Primary School sector.
amazed
says...
1:55pm Tue 3 Aug 10
I am sorry to see Shadsworth LC go but I understand that it is not a viable proposition to refurb it. It is "quite old" by modern standards.
I wonder, though, what will happen to it. Will it be allowed to fall down? It is on the main "Blackburn bypass"and would not be a good advert. We still have the old Model Lodging House in Police Street, Darwen blighting the landscape amongst the modern buildings of the Health Centre and the new Leisure Centre. The land could be used as an additional car park if nothing else. Pleased to see that the recent issue of the Shuttle tried to explain some of the thinking behind some of the council decisions. Much better than the "bald statements" made by the councillors themselves which, frankly, are an insult to the people who they address.
WittonPark
says...
2:35pm Tue 3 Aug 10
I certainly believe that leisure provision should be enhanced and expanded in the Borough - but of course that involves closures as well as new developments.
But there's the new build of Blakewater College to come and the relocation to the Golf Driving Range.
So that whole area will become available for alternative use over the next few years and perhaps (optimistically) as the economy grows, there will be an opportunity to develop the area, create jobs, and perhaps an opportunity for the expansion of the Industrial Area as well and/or the Retail / Leisure area from the JJB Centre etc.
WittonPark
says...
2:48pm Tue 3 Aug 10
Firstly, just remember that Council Tax is made up from central taxation as well.
Safetyman advised that "Witton park is not used by everyone, so lets hope we don't all pay for it in increased council taxes."
But if we adopted that philosophy none of our Council Tax would go on facilities as none of our Borough Facilities are used by everyone.
I have never borrowed a book from a BwD library, I've never used Audley Sports Centre, I've never been to Corporation Park and my local Green Lane Community Centre may as well be on the moon.
The point is, we either accept that we all pay in to one pot, for all the facilities and use them where we see fit, accepting that we won't use them all, or all facilities effectively get closed down, reducing our tax burden and we have to rely on private enterprise provision and adopt a pay as you go policy.
amazed
says...
7:21pm Tue 3 Aug 10
You are a breath of fresh air on these blogs. Usually insults, abusive language and most things rubbish. Thank you. I am with you all the way!!
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mr plod says...
4:59pm Fri 30 Jul 10