Pools on the Park Health Suite

Statement

WE THE UNDERSIGNED PETITION THE COUNCIL TO:

1. Rescind the Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sports Committee decision on 7 November 2023 to convert the former health suite area into a group exercise studio, on the following grounds:
a) Breaking of commitment to former health suite users in August 2023 to only make a decision on the future of the health suite when the leisure strategy is complete.
b) Misuse of allocated £187K budget. Conversion of the area for another purpose is not “refurbishment” as was stated in the Capital Programme and Funding budget that was first approved in February 2022.
c) Ignoring residents' views: An overwhelming 84% of member respondents and 68% of non-member respondents supported the health suite refurbishment in the 2021 survey. 74 respondents wanted a health suite vs 13 respondents wanted more group exercise space in the 2023 leisure centre survey.
d) All projected demand for a group exercise studio was derived from computer modelling resulting in an insignificant 1% increase in Pools on the Park memberships over 1 year, when actual data shows that memberships are down by 42% since 2019.
e) Committee members were very poorly informed by Richmond Council (resulting in much confusion about what they were debating) and were not provided with sufficient background information.

2. Immediate suspension of any tender process currently in progress for the conversion of the area into a group exercise studio.

3. As promised, postpone the decision until the leisure strategy is complete (currently expected in Spring 2024). Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sports Committee members should be fully informed about the 28 year history of the health suite, the contribution it made as an incentive for membership and the arguments for refurbishing and retaining it.

Details

After 28 years in operation, the health suite at Pools on the Park was closed in March 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 lockdown and never reopened.

18 months later, Richmond Council announced in September 2021 that the facilities had: "…all now reached the end of their natural life and are no longer viable for repair."

In July 2022 the equipment and infrastructure was fully removed and the room was stripped back to bare floor and walls.

On 7 November 2023, the Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sports Committee voted in favour (6 for and 2 against) of converting the empty room to a group exercise studio.

A much-loved leisure facility has been taken away from residents through endless delays, a broken commitment, misuse of allocated funding, concealment of data and blatant disregard for our views. A 28 year reality has been destroyed and turned into a mere "long-term ambition".

Started by: Martin Baker (on behalf of Pools on the Park Health Suite Action Group)

Rejection Reason

Petitions will be accepted only where they relate to a matter that the council can affect, for example they call on the council to take a particular course of action. Petition that is proposed seeks to overturn a decision of the Committee

Up to:

Petitions