Hes.East debate runs on
LABOUR REPRESENTATIVES on campus and in the local council have attacked Liberal Democrat claims that a “formal agreement” exists between the University and the Council over a new swimming pool at Heslington East.
In a press release before Christmas, the Liberal Democrats celebrated a partnership with the University to develop sport facilities in York, believing it would encourage all “citizens to swim.” However, the Assistant Director of Leisure and Lifelong Learning at the Council made clear to the Leader of the Labour Group, Councillor Dave Merrett that the “University only asks for a committee to be set up to examine the proposal, and there is not any kind of formal agreement or intention to build a pool at this point in time.” The Labour group have labelled the original press release as “nothing more than a Liberal Democrat lie which serves to mislead the public.”
Steven Galloway, Leader of the Council and Liberal Democrat Group maintains however that a “statement of intent” does exist with the University and plans have been developed for a competition standard pool to be built on a preferred location of Heslington East. The University issued a statement agreeing that a “statement of intent” was in place and that “both parties had indicated they would contribute funds” and they are “confident that a successful plan will result and eventually be implemented.”
However, it is notable that it is no longer referred to as a “formal agreement”. Further criticism has been directed at the Liberal Democrat-controlled council because supporting the plans for a swimming pool on the Heslington East campus would mean supporting the University’s expansion programme which its own councillors, such as Ceredig Jamieson-Ball have spoken out against.
Grace Fletcher-Hall, Labour’s student representative on Campus said, “It doesn’t inspire great confidence to learn that the current Council’s sports strategy depends on something which their own councillors claim to oppose.” However, Steven Galloway maintains that Labour’s criticism of his council is due to their preferred plan of a swimming pool on Kent Street, which would soak up funding.
