Council ignoring Falmouth’s need for pool in consultation

Residents in Cornwall are being invited to contribute to a new framework that will be used to make decisions about the Duchy’s leisure facilities over the next ten years.

On the Move: A Framework for Leisure Activity in Cornwall (2024-2034) sets out the council’s vision for leisure services.

However, the people behind Pendennis Leisure, the community interest company set up to bring the former Ships and Castles Leisure Centre back to life after it was handed over by the town council, say Falmouth's need for a pool is specifically ruled out in the consultation.

In a Facebook post, town and Labour councillor Jude Robinson said the new consultation on leisure activity provision makes no mention of a public leisure facility in Falmouth.

“By concluding that Falmouth does not need a public swimming pool or leisure centre, Cornwall Council will be able to excuse itself from working with and supporting Pendennis Leisure in the work they are doing to raise funding for a facility in Falmouth,” she said. “This will make it more difficult to access the grants needed.”

She said the questions in the survey were bland and can be interpreted in any way the council sees fit but there is space for comments.

She told the Packet the reference to Falmouth that counted in the consultation documents was where it said: "The location where most unmet demand could be met is Falmouth, at 144 sqm of water.

“However, it is an insufficient level of unmet demand to justify building a new swimming pool at this location, based on the FPM findings."

She said Page 12 of Appendix 2 refers to the discredited draft strategy that recommended the closure of Falmouth's pool.

“There is no correction to this strategy even though we were assured it would be reconsidered,” she said. “Appendix 3, the ten-year strategy makes no mention of Falmouth.

“It's the same strategy as before, just repackaged. Falmouth's need for a pool is specifically ruled out.”

In a statement, a spokesperson from Cornwall Council told the Packet: “Cornwall Council is consulting with residents on how decisions about leisure services should be made over the next ten years.

“There are multiple factors that will need to be taken into account regarding where resource and any potential funding should be allocated. No decisions regarding future leisure provision have been made at this stage.

“As part of the ongoing consultation, residents are being asked to provide feedback on the criteria that will be used to inform decisions in the coming years.

“You can respond to the consultation on the Let’s Talk Cornwall website.”

Launching the consultation this month, Cornwall Council’s says it is a roadmap to deliver a greener, cleaner Cornwall that is fairer and more inclusive.

It says the framework focuses on the development of accessible and sustainable leisure facilities. It also seeks to address health inequalities and foster inclusivity.

It says with no statutory funding for leisure provision, it’s a challenging time for leisure centres across the country.

By working with partners and leisure operators, it hopes to explore different funding opportunities to maintain a sustainable network of leisure facilities across Cornwall.

It says the framework will use specific criteria to inform decision-making, ensuring that investments, support and initiatives are aligned with the needs of Cornwall’s communities.

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Launching the consultation Councillor Carol Mould, portfolio holder for Neighbourhoods at Cornwall Council, said: “We must think carefully about how we can safeguard our leisure centres and look at alternative funding streams, such as grants.

“This framework will help us focus our efforts on the areas most in need and look at how we can ensure that people across Cornwall are empowered to stay active.”

The consultation launched on the Let’s Talk Cornwall website on Wednesday, September 11 and will run for six weeks.