Swimming pool closure plans will be scrutinised

The planned closure of a popular swimming pool will be fully examined by councillors before any decision is taken.

Campaigners fighting a proposal to close Northbrook swimming pool in Exeter got more than 2,000 people to sign a petition which forced Exeter City Council to discuss the plans on Tuesday and agree they should be fully analysed and discussed.

In a packed meeting in the Exeter Guildhall, Liberal Democrat leader Michael Mitchell said the plans to close Northbrook had been a case of "back of a fag packet budget setting".

Councillors voted unanimously to further discuss the planned closure and its impact on the community at scrutiny committee at a later date before the final decision.

Immediately after the meeting, campaigner Colleen Natola said: "I'm very pleased - it was a unanimous decision by the councillors that perhaps they made a decision before they actually found out all the information that they need.

"It's definitely a win for us at this stage, and it's great news for users of Northbrook pool because we can carry on swimming."

Exeter City Council voted to cut the budget for leisure centre services by £586,000 on 25 February and, two days later, staff at Northbrook were told a "decision has been made to manage the closure" of the pool.

After a public outcry, the council then held a public consultation for six weeks between 11 March and 22 April.

Diana Moore, Green Party leader, put forward a motion to send the plans to scrutiny committee, which was unanimously approved.

Phil Bialyk, Labour leader of Exeter City Council, said: "I said we would have full and honest consultation with the public before any decisions would be made and that's exactly what I'm doing."

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