Leisure Provision Left To Fend For Itself

I WOULD expect Jackie Petts to be well briefed as she is a paid councillor (Leisure Village Is A Solution, Letters) whereas I am only a member of the public, commenting on the proposed new Leisure Centre as I see it.

I WOULD expect Jackie Petts to be well briefed as she is a paid councillor (Leisure Village Is A Solution, Letters) whereas I am only a member of the public, commenting on the proposed new Leisure Centre as I see it.

However, last week I did attend a meeting to find out more, where some polished computer graphics were shown to us of the proposed new Leisure Centre They did look very impressive and almost convincing, but I wonder whether enough people will make the journey there to make it pay its way? Certainly we were told that it would be unlikely that there would a bus service connecting it to Ely or anywhere else, unless it was subsidised by the council.

We were also shown a map of the current Paradise site with the silhouette of the new centre over the top. The strange thing was that although a different shape, it almost looked the same size. Perhaps the graphics weren’t so impressive after all!

I still came away from the meeting with the feeling that most people wanted the swimming pool at least, to be in the middle of town. Obviously, this suits the people of Ely best, but aren’t we trying to encourage visitors from the surrounding villages to come into the centre, to shop, eat and maybe, keep fit as well?

But I guess what really gets me about this whole affair is that the Conservative council proposes to spend millions on this project while letting other parts of its leisure and arts provision fend for itself, not just now when things are tough, but over the last few years.

TED CONEY

Waterside, Ely