Truro and Falmouth MP Cherilyn Mackrory has accused Labour of “politically motivated scaremongering” after it raised concerns over the future of Truro swimming pool.

Mrs Mackrory was responding after Labour’s parliamentary candidate Jayne Kirkham met GLL’s Cornwall Head of Service to discuss concerns over the operation and future of Truro’s swimming pool.

Cllr Kirkham said parents had raised concerns over the changes in opening times with her, which Cornwall Council says are due to cost pressures, the cost of living crisis and the energy crisis facing the UK.

However, Mrs Mackrory says she is in regular contact with GLL about issues around the cost of living crisis and had been assured that closure was not being considered.

“A Labour Councillor saying that the Truro swimming pool ‘may close in the future’ is simply not accurate, and sadly just politically motivated scare-mongering,” she said in a statement.

“I am in regular contact with GLL about issues around the cost of living crisis. On receipt of Labour’s press release today I emailed the Head of Service for GLL in Cornwall, about the issues described and he assured me that closure is not being considered, rather that they are doing everything possible to mitigate the ongoing pressures from utility costs by reducing gas and electricity consumption where possible, growing our income and modifying our pool programme to make it more efficient especially over the winter period where the costs are considerably more.”

She said GLL went on to say that Truro is one of their busiest swimming pools with over 1100 children learning to swim each week there, the highest number they have ever had enrolled.

“They are working hard to protect our swimming pools and keep them open.

“The Government knows many leisure centres and swimming pools are contending with major increases in running costs, which is why we have introduced the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. It will mean they pay wholesale energy costs, well below half of expected prices this winter.”

She said the cost of living pressures are a symptom of Putin’s war against Ukraine, with its bite being felt internationally.

“To try to make this a purely political matter betrays a certain naivety from opposition councillors.

“I will continue to work with GLL and Cornwall Council to ensure the swimming pool in Truro remains open and I want to reiterate that GLL has no plans to close the pool.”

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Concerns raised over future of Truro swimming pool after opening times cut

Cornwall Council said GLL has been looking closely at its programmes and where possible looking at options to reduce pool opening times, or make adjustments that reduce its costs, in particular energy costs.”

GLL’s head of service in Cornwall has also written to Cornwall's Tory MPs lobbying for direct financial support to local authority leisure centres (and in particular swimming pools) that are operated by charitable trusts.

They say their viability is significantly threatened by the massive increase in energy costs (350%) and staffing costs(15%+).

GLL recently hit the headlines after handing back the reigns of a number of leisure centres in Cornwall.

This week it was announced that Launceston Swimming Pool would have to close because no deal could be struck between the council and proposed new operators.

Community Interest Company Pendennis Leisure and Falmouth Town Council are currently in a negotiations with Cornwall Council to take over the closed Ships and Castles swimming pool in Falmouth.