Harwich: All may not be lost for leisure plans (From Harwich and Manningtree Standard)

Harwich: All may not be lost for leisure plans

11:30am Friday 27th November 2009

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FRESH hopes have been raised to overturn a controversial decision to scrap upgrades of a town’s lesiure facilities.

A motion to spend £850,000 redeveloping Dovercourt Swimming Pool will be put forward at next month’s Tendring Council meeting.

The funding, which includes £120,000 already put aside to replace air conditioning at the facility, would pay for new changing rooms, a lift and extra gym equipment.

The plans were first announced in February but were cancelled by the council in July after it said they were not financially viable.

But councillor Lawrie Payne, who put forward the latest plans, disagrees.

“This could be a reality,” he said.

“The finances are there as is pointed out on the agenda of the meeting. It is fully funded.”

He added: “This is a real possibility. We need a majority of 31 councillors and I am hoping all Harwich councillors will support it.”

Betty Holloway, secretary of Dovercourt Beach Hut Users Association, who fully supported the original plans, said: “I’m all excited to be honest.

“This is a real chance for a dire swimming pool to be brought bang up to date for all those people who use it.

“As long as all the town councillors vote for it then there’s no reason why it won’t go through.

“But politics need to be put aside by everyone and they need to remember they are there for the good of Harwich.

“It has been neglected for ten years and it’s getting to the point now where it desperately needs to be upgraded to the level of Clacton and Walton.”

It also emerged this week a third party has contacted Tendring Council about leasing Dovercourt Skating Rink, which has been disused since 2007.

The council is currently seeking approval from Neil Stock, portfolio holder for Community Partnerships and Renewal, to discuss the potential lease.

Mrs Holloway added: “I hope they take it on because it seriously needs doing. There are weeds everywhere and it looks a mess.

“If we lose these projects then it opens the town up to lose everything else.”

Pat Burke, Harwich town councillor, said she was “praying” for the plans to go through.

“If I could get on my hands and knees I would. I was gutted when the new administration said they couldn’t do the swimming pool.”

The redevelopment of Dovercourt Swimming Pool is scheduled to be discussed at the next Tendring Council meeting on December 1.

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