Kempston residents were dismayed to learn of the huge sum of taxpayers’ money that has been allocated to reopen Robinson Pool in Bedford.
It appears that Kempston residents are once again playing the ‘Cinderella’ part when it comes to the allocation of resources in the Borough.
£630,000 has been found to support Fusion Lifestyle Ltd in getting the Bedford swimming pool complex reopened.
Kempston Calling (October 12) asked the Portfolio holder responsible for leisure Cllr McMurdo for his comments on the situation and so far has redirected us to the ‘Comms’ department in Borough Hall.
A spokesperson for the council issued this statement (October 13) on behalf of Cllr McMurdo saying: “This is not a case of one leisure centre against another. We want all of our leisure sites across Bedford Borough open as soon as possible.
“To date, the Council has agreed to pay Fusion £318,100 from April to September 2020, and we have committed to pay them £45,500 per month from October until the end March 2021.
“The Council has agreed to assist Fusion with funding to help maintain all the sites including Kempston Pool throughout lockdown, and for them to re-open Mowsbury Golf Course, the Stadium for local clubs to use, and most recently Robinson Pools & Fitness as the busiest site, with a range of activities including swimming with pools, a large gym, and studios, providing multiple options for gym users.
“Leisure operators across the country have had the majority of their income disappear overnight and even after reopening income will be at a much reduced level. There is no way of avoiding additional support from either national or local taxpayers during the pandemic to enable facilities to be maintained and opened.
“We are working with Fusion Lifestyle to ensure that they re-open further leisure centres for Bedford Borough residents as soon as possible, but we know that people will appreciate that this may come with an extra cost. We are calling on the Government to help us to meet that cost, with Council finances already under huge pressure.”
Labour Group Leader on Bedford Borough Councillor, Sue Oliver told Kempston Calling: “Kempston Labour Councillors are on the case trying to get to the bottom of the issue with Fusion Lifestyle, who have performed poorly for some time.
“We are disappointed with their lack of communication throughout this pandemic with both the Borough Council and residents, who are users of their facilities.
“We will be questioning the Portfolio Holder for Leisure Services at Full Council this Wednesday (October 14).
“Kempston Pool and their other facilities across the Borough are valued by local people, and Fusion Lifestyle need to open them as soon as possible.
“I hope that the reopening of Robinson Pool has proved instructive to them on how to operate safely during the Covid 19 pandemic, and they will now prioritise the opening up of other Borough wide facilities.’
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