Save Clapham Leisure Services
March 2006

Culture Minister Rt Hon.Tessa Jowell MP signing the 'Keep Clapham Swimming' petition

More than one hundred residents attended a public meeting in Clapham on Tuesday night to attack Lib Dem and Tory plans to close local leisure facilities. Residents are outraged at proposals put forward by the Liberal Democrat and Tory controlled council to sell-off the leisure centre on Clapham Manor Street. Tory Councillors remained silent as the man in charge of the consultation, Lib Dem Ashley Lumsden, was publicly ridiculed by the entire audience.

Local residents are particularly angered by what speakers called a ‘sham consultation’ which heavily favours the sell-off and puts forward biased arguments against the option of refurbishing the existing facilities. Lib Dem Councillor Lumsden, who is in charge of the consultation, caused uproar when he stated that refurbishment was “not my option” - exposing that his mind is already made up.

The Lib Dems and Tories own budget papers show they will net millions from selling off the existing leisure centre. Their “preferred option” for building replacement facilities on the High Street fails to guarantee a replacement swimming pool. Their consultation document includes a get-out clause, saying a new pool would be “complicated” to build and could only be “considered during development”.

Clapham Labour Action Team Member, Nigel Haselden said:

"The Lib Dems’ and Tories’ hidden agenda is to asset-strip Clapham to help fill multi-million pound holes in the council’s finances. Local people are absolutely furious that popular local leisure facilities are being sold off to pay for Lib Dem and Tory financial mistakes.”

“Only Labour will save Clapham Leisure Centre. We want to see the existing leisure centre refurbished and extended so we can have new gym space and extend the main pool. Labour will not stand by and let the Lib Dems and Tories destroy Clapham’s leisure services.”

You can sign the petition on-line at www.keepclaphamswimming.com.

Share you views on this and other local issues in the Lambeth Forum and be kept informed about local issues by emailing subscribe@lambethlabour.com.

To let us know your view on this issue, get help from your local councillor, or discover how you can help Labour in Lambeth, please complete the form below.