Save Seaton Pool

Update

EP Plymouth — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 18:12:03 +0000

The website may have been quiet over the past few months, but we remain busy behind the scenes. As reported in the Herald, a meeting is being arranged between representatives of the “Save Seaton Pool” campaign and representatives of Plymouth City Council’s Conservative leadership. At the time of the local elections in May, we were sent a letter promising that a site for a new swimming pool in the north of the city would be identified within three months of the Conservatives winning control of the Council. Several months have now elapsed, so the purpose of our meeting will be to discover what progress has been made. Please continue to watch this space for updates!

Gotcha!!

EP Plymouth — Mon, 07 May 2007 20:33:25 +0000

Well, the election results are in and “they” are out. The Labour Party majority on Plymouth City Council has been overturned and the Conservative Party are in the majority. We believe that the extremely bad showing of the Labour Party in the Plymouth area is due to a large extent to “their” grossly flawed decsion to close Seaton Pool. Long may they their treachery be remembered and punished annually by the voters of Plymouth. We look forward to what the new council can do for swimmming and public swimming pools in Plymouth. We also look forward to next years’ elections when more of those who agreed with, or acquiesced in the closure of Seaton will hopefully be thrown out of office. We also would ask the new Council leader to review the actions of the South West Regional Destruction Agency and certain Plymouth City Council officials in the shabby betrayal of the people of Plymouth regarding the seemingly inexplicable and rushed closure of Seaton Pool.

Please use your vote on May 3rd

EP Plymouth — Tue, 01 May 2007 17:12:54 +0000

The local elections on Thursday May 3rd give an opportunity to kick out the Labour councillors responsible for closing Seaton Pool. Many wards are expected to be very closely fought, and a single vote could make all the difference in some areas of Plymouth.

We believe that a power change within the Council would give the best chance of replacing Seaton Pool quickly. Please note that this website is not associated with any political party. We just want a Council that will rapidly improve swimming facilities in Plymouth. To read our thoughts about the local elections and the candidates please click here.

More incompetence (we think) but we do have two signs

EP Plymouth — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 07:29:37 +0000

Anyway, no diggers yet to be seen at the proposed Sharron Centre (yes, he must be going gaga to suggest such a name). However, the people of Plymouth do have two signs, one on Outland Road and one on Alma Road that promise the Sharron Centre in 2008. Probably this will be late 2008 of course and we may find that we can live with just the signs rather that the fully fledged Sharron Centre. Whoever suggested those signs really is a nutter. Pictures (of the signs) soon.

What we also have is the letter from the Big Lottery fund that rejected the Big Life centtre (this was the one that was going to cost twice the price of the Sharron Centre). It was not released at the time, but has now been obtained by use of the Freedom of Information Act. A pity it was not written in English but our translators have had a go at it and the short translation is that “Plymouth City Council you are incompetent and cannot put in fully thought through lottery funding bids. Also, we think you are really only concerned about elite athletes rather than the people of Plymouth.”. How much money did this incompetent bid cost?
Rejection Letter from Lottery
Linked to the letter above, the Herald ran a story. See the Herald story by clicking here

Local elections on the 5th May. You know who not to vote for.

How can Plymouth City Council be so incompetent?

EP Plymouth — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 21:15:08 +0000

You could not write a farce that matches up to Plymouth City Council’s incompetence. First they close Seaton Pool and then they close Plympton for 6 weeks for repairs. Now we hear that Central Park is to be closed for 6 weeks at Christmas. All the time we look for the signs of diggers digging holes for the new Life Centre. None have been seen as yet, but an awful lot of column inches have been taken up in the Herald talking about it. In an extract from a recent issue of the Herald we have Mary O’Leary questioning whether it would not be better to build a real Life Centre before naming it. With the near magical powers that Tudor has discovered in naming the Life Centre the “Sharron Centre” it is becoming more obvious each day that he is wasted in the outpost that is Plymouth. National politics needs Tudor more than we do in Plymouth. Also, in the letters column of the Herald the bickering goes on but as we said earlier, no diggers have been seen at Central Park yet.

Mary O’Leary in 22-3-07 Herald

Herald Letters 22-3-07

As we said earlier, on the 28-3-07 the Herald reported that Central Park was to close for 6 weeks at Christmas, leaving just Plympton pool open. Crazy people these councillors! The only consolation is that elections are due in five weeks. Below is Herald report on the Central Park closure and another Herald letter.

Central Park closure in Herald 28-3-07

Herald letters 28-3-07

So many good ideas!

EP Plymouth — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 22:16:15 +0000

There are some contrasts in this posting. First of we carry a piece from the Evening Herald that was written by Mary O’Leary. In it she bemoans the lack of swimming facilities in Plymouth. Yes, just about right there. Mary also takes to task the South West Regional Destruction Agency for knocking down Seaton Pool and Plymouth City Council about the never ending stream of swimming strategies and the mythical life centre that never seems to get very far. Yes, just about right again but it does keep PCC employees busy.

Evening Herald 8-2-07 MoL

The next item is how the 10 Downing Street website has a petition on that is dedicated to saving local pools. Go and try it, sign the petition and keep your fingers crossed.

Prime Minister’s website petition on swimming pools

However, do not be too hopeful. When you actually get hold of him and ask about Seaton pool face to face, the answer is “Nothing to do with me (but I am extremely concerned)”.

Prime Minister’s Letter P1

Prime Minister’s Letter P2

More hot air…

EP Plymouth — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 22:42:56 +0000

Scientists have established that 10% of global warming is due to the hot air coming from Tudor Evans and Plymouth City Council on the subject of the Life Centre. It might even develop into a new spectator sport (a bit like Sumo but more likely to end in a heart attack) where fat men bluster to the press. Since the bumper swimming pool edition of the Herald more and more people have noticed that Plymouth is one or two swimming pools short of a full complement. First of all (thanks to the Herald) we have a letter suggesting something is done (other than more hot air production).

Herald letter from 19-1-07

Then lots of people joined in. Some saying the north of the city is best, some saying the Life Centre is best (more hot air but no action)

More Herald letters

Then it seems that when the going gets a bit tough, 20 million pounds (yes pounds!!) can just be cut from the Life Centre cost. Amazing… Then some people say that we should not go for a cut price Life Centre. Lots of talk but no action as usual.
Comment in the Herald

Only the best will do for a Life Centre

Then finally we get back to basic premise. This is that Seaton should not have been shut and Tudor Evans and his cronies should be ejected from the Council as soon as possible for carrying out such vandalism.

Letter on the sad state of public swimming in Plymouth

Herald Swimming Pool Edition

EP Plymouth — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 22:09:01 +0000

It almost seems that the Friday 12/1/2007 edition of the Herald was solely devoted to the failures of Plymouth City Council and the lack of swimming pools for the people of Plymouth! First of all the front page news was that the Conservative group had withdrawn support for the Life Centre and were proposing a 50m pool in the north of the city. This site does not have a view on which is the best option. This site seeks to publicise the stupidity of Tudor Evans and his cronies in shutting Seaton and urging more swimming pools for the city of Plymouth. However, it needs to be said that the Life Centre has been talked about for 15 months and it always seems that things are not quite right just yet. Trust us (they say) and things will be wonderful soon. Why should we start believing you Tudor? With thanks to the Herald, here is the front page and other pages covering the story.

Herald front page 12-1-07

Herald continuation 12-1-07

Rob Preece view 12-1-07

Herald editorial 12-1-07

The Herald also covered the Council report on swimming and swimming pools. Apparently 6 new ones may be needed. Probably best to round it up to ten and possibly get a discount. Why did they close Seaton, and what are they actually doing about building just one replacement?

More pools needed (but none available to use now)

There was also a large selection of letters on Tinside in the same issue of the Herald and we include these as well.

Tinside letters
Finally, the Herald covered a trip to London by a group of Plymouth people to meet Tony Blair. At the meeting questions were asked about the dismal provision for swimming in Pymouth and the closure of Seaton.

St Sue of Seaton Story

Remember that Tudor Evans and his cronies closed Seaton and have only produced hot air regarding the disgraceful lack of swimming facilities in Plymouth. Why should anyone trust them?

Are you ready for when Plympton pool closes?

EP Plymouth — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 22:22:31 +0000

Yes, next week Plympton pool closes for 6, 7, 8 or more weeks, depending on who you believe. That leaves just Central Park (with its occasional technical difficulties) available as a public swimming pool for 250,000 people. Just put it down to good planning by Plymouth City Council. With thanks to the Herald we carry a letter pleading for more pools for the city of Plymouth below. The first half of the second Herald story (28/11/06) is OK and details the forthcoming closure of Plympton. The writer then totally runs out of ideas for the second half and seems to unquestioningly regurgitate some wonderful things about Plympton pool that the nice man from the Council told him. Read it and see what you think. Finally there is a Webword extract suggesting that Seaton should have at least been kept open until Plympton repairs were completed. Too simple for Plymouth City Council.

Herald 27-11-06 letter

Herald 28-11-06 Plympton closure story

Herald webword extract

The serious lack of swimming pools in Plymouth continues

EP Plymouth — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 21:40:45 +0000

There has been a lot of swimming pool related news in the Plymouth area over the last week or so. The first bit of news is that the long awaited swimming strategy for Plymouth will not be available until 2007 (if it ever arrives). If it takes a year for Plymouth City Council to produce a piece of paper, how long for a swimming pool? With thanks to the Evening Herald we reproduce the story below. Looks like there are going to be swimming pools everywhere. The second item is a letter from some opposition Councillors regarding the “down side” of the proposed Central Park works. We carry this story below as well. The next item is the text of an ongoing discussion on the letters page of the Herald betwwen Mr Briggs and Mr Newman. Mr Newman’s opening letter to the Herald was carried earlier on this website. Here the “spat” goes on. We think you are both right; it is the lack of swimming pools that is the problem. Finally, we have a communication in the webword of the Herald from “Colin of Eggbuckland”. Yes, Tudor probably does regret closing Seaton. If only he could have had enough foresight to have thought ahead, he could have avoided the festering sore he has created.

Pool Strategy story (Ho, ho, ho)

Opposition Councillors on Life Centre proposals

Mr Briggs and Mr Newman

Colin of Eggbuckland

News Update

EP Plymouth — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 20:23:53 +0000

What is the problem with the SWRDA and the Plymouth area? Closing swimming pools and destroying communities initially, and now destroying jobs in Saltash. Do they do the same in Exeter? The Herald carried the story about the SWRDA destroying jobs (which we reproduce below) and we know about the swimming pool. Another lot closing swimming pools is Plymouth City Council. After Seaton, their next pool that they are closing (albeit only temporarily) is Plympton. Only one council run pool left for Plymouth for at least six weeks. Again the Herald carried the story which is reproduced below. Where are people going to swim? Possibly Central Park? No, by the sound of the letter in the Evening Herald you cannot even swim at Central Park. This is because it closes for galas. See again the letter below. No swimming pools but in five or six year’s time we may have a life centre (ho, ho, ho). There is (according to the Herald) still life in the Life Centre idea. The fact that it will not be available for five or six years does not seem to matter.

SWRDA destroying local jobs story

Plympton pool closing story

Herald letter about Central Park closing for galas

Still life story from the Herald

Mmm. Have Plymouth City Council done that well?

EP Plymouth — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 15:39:30 +0000

Some people are still not happy about Seaton Pool being closed and the lack of swimming opportunities in Plymouth. How could this be? People are still writing letters to the Herald and complaining. Tsk. Also, the Evening Herald this week regurgitated the same old rubbish about the Life Centre. Perhaps there could be a survey of the people of Plymouth to see how many people believe the failed politicians with their plans that are likely to come to nothing (at least in the near future).
Same old regurgitated rubbish about the Life Centre

Evening Herald letter 21-10-06

Evening Herald letters 25-10-06

Well done Plymouth City Council

EP Plymouth — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 18:09:15 +0000

The wooden wall is still up at Seaton Pool and many of the people of Plymouth have no place to swim. See the link to the latest letters in the Evening Herald complaining about the overcrowding at Central Park. Plympton Pool is coming closer to the planned 5 week shutdown over Christmas so it will be even more crowded at Central Park. The plans for the 50m pool seem to be dead in the water (if that is possible for swimming pool plans). Well done Tudor Evans. Well done Peter Smith. Well done Plymouth City Council.

Latest letters from the Herald

What’s happening to the masterplan for swimming?

EP Plymouth — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 19:23:31 +0000

Are you still listening Tudor? Only we were wondering when the masterplan for swimming in Plymouth was going to be available? Rumour has it that the plan (ho ho) will not be available until after Christmas (ho ho ho). I wonder if anyone believed the council when they said it would be available in a few weeks. Anyway, it does not seem to be one of your top priorities.

On another point, we are planning to hand out leaflets outside the new Drake’s Circus shopping mall on a Saturday before Christmas. Please email us via the “Have your say” page on this website if you can help (obviously we will not publish your words).

Finally, what about the planned shutdown at Plympton pool? What are all the swimmers going to do then? Plympton will, we are being told, be closed for 5 weeks for repairs. There is (supposedly) something nasty living under the tiles in the men’s changing room that is making a smell. Who could it be? Answers on the “Have your say” page please.

Who’s nobbled the Herald?

EP Plymouth — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 19:17:23 +0000

Normally the Herald gives a fair and balanced view of Plymouth City Council incompetence. However, on page 4 of Saturday’s Evening Herald there was a grovelling piece on how wonderful swimming is in Plymouth since Seaton closed. Do PCC have to pay for this type of advertisement? And does anyone believe it? Probably not (and hopefully not, because that will make the remaining pools even more overcrowded); and it devalues the other good work done by the Herald. Why does the Herald not do a story on swimmers suffering one of the crowded public sessions at Central Park?

Evening Herald 16-9-06 page 4

Anyway, the quality of writing goes up on page 5 and there is discussion on the masterplan for swimming that may or may not be ready any day now. However, can anyone believe anything Plymouth City Council say (if they ever get round to saying anything constructive)? If they could plan, or wanted to plan, they would have done so before shutting Seaton. This would have allowed an orderly changeover. Now we have grossly overcrowded pools at Central Park and Plympton, and we have the council frantically trying to agree what to do now their life centre plans are dead in the water.

Evening Herald 16-9-06 page 5

The misrepresentation of the facts is again repeated in Saturday’s Evening Herald editorial. Yes, the people of Plymouth know that Central Park and Plympton exist and provide opportunities for swimming. However, they also know that the pools are overcrowded and in many cases decide that they are too crowded to have an enjoyable swim. Many then sit down and switch on the telly/computer/playstation.

Evening Herald 16-9-06 editorial