Southampton residents voice fury at pool closure plan


Dave Boyes

After witnessing all the euphoria on TV about the Olympic Games, on Friday 10 August I attended a public meeting at Lordshill in Southampton.

Angry residents are trying to save Oaklands swimming pool from closure by the Labour controlled council.

All our so-called leaders and sports commentators tell us how well we’ve done in the games, with swimming playing its part, but the Labour council is trying to destroy a swimming pool.

Eight Socialist Party members attended the meeting to support the Lordshill residents in their stand.

The meeting was very well attended by over 100 people, with standing room only for some residents. It was chaired by Don Thomas and the lead speaker was Keith Morell, Labour Party councillors who, as reported in the Socialist, have voted against the closure of Oaklands pool and against all Labour budget cuts.

Four Socialist Party members spoke from the floor and we had a magnificent response. It left Labour councillor Warwick Payne with his ears ringing from the protests.

The pool needs a £10,000 refit due to the council not maintaining it properly. The council has an agenda to run the pool down to sell it to developers.

I was once a Labour Party member myself and on the back of my membership card it said that the Labour Party is a socialist party. What a joke! I say to councillor Payne, is it a socialist act to destroy a swimming pool?

Judging by the local people at the meeting and the signatures our party has obtained from campaign stalls held weekly, the pool is well used and wanted.

It is an act of vandalism to try to destroy the pool and sell the ground to developers.


See also the report in the Southern Daily Echo:

Campaigners … blast Southampton City Council over controversial plans