Concern over Fleetwood ‘missing out’ on proposed leisure funding

The council has put forward a report to recommend the £340,165 funds in 2020/21 to enable Fylde Coast YMCA to continue to provide a leisure service in Wyre.

This funding is in addition to the previously agreed £636,345 and brings the total funding package to support Fylde Coast YMCA to just under £1million, at a time when the centres are struggling because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Wyre says it is recommending the funds for the amenities at Thornton and Garstang, instead of those at Fleetwood and Poulton, because they have higher memberships and are considered the most financially viable.

But the plans have been blasted by Fleetwood’s MP, Cat Smith, who is particularly concerned that the town’s swimming pool has been closed since March, did not reopen when lockdown was relaxed in July, and appears to be no closer to reopening in the near future.

A decision on these latest funding proposals is set to made at an extraordinary meeting of Wyre’s Cabinet this Wednesday,( November 25) at 5pm.

Ms Smith, the Labour MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood, said: “Once again it is very disappointing that Fleetwood seems to have been completely ignored.

“I’m obviously really sorry that the YMCA has suffered like so many businesses have during this pandemic – but thousands of children across Wyre and some of the Fylde have now not had a swimming lesson for nine months because Fleetwood’s baths have been closed.

“The pool is used by many clubs, its an enjoyable leisure activity for kids at the weekend and in the holidays – and many others rely on it for their health and wellbeing.

“Given the size of Fleetwood and the feeder areas, I fail to see why our pool hasn’t been prioritised.”

Concerns were echoed by David Gregson, chairman of Fleetwood and District Swimming Club, who said: “I understand these are recommendations and a decision has not yet been made, but I am very concerned that these proposals have been made in the first place.”

Wyre says the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a profound impact on the leisure sector and it is hoped that this funding will support the sustainable economic recovery of leisure centre facilities within Wyre.

This additional subsidy will allow the gyms and fitness classes to reopen at Thornton and Garstang leisure centres once restrictions are lifted, including the swimming pool at Garstang.

Coun Lynne Bowen, portfolio holder for leisure, health and community engagement at Wyre Council, said: “Whilst ideally we want to be able to reopen all the centres, without the level of demand we were seeing before coronavirus, and the fact that no central government funding has been confirmed for the leisure sector, we have to find the best way forward.

“Unfortunately, COVID-19 has further impacted financial performance.

“We are of course committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our communities and together with the YMCA we have identified that Thornton and Garstang are the two most viable centres to reopen.

“They have the highest number of members and since the pandemic began they have retained more memberships than the other centres.”

A sum of £100m of government funding for leisure centres has been announced but no details on the application process or criteria have yet emerged.

John Cronin, CEO of Fylde Coast YMCA said, “Without additional funding from Wyre Council we would not be able to open any of our centres and this further injection of money will allow us to reopen two centres, one in the urban area and one in the rural area. The other centres will be kept under review.”