No stone will be left unturned in Worcester swimming pool mission, vows council (From Worcester News)

How many members does Worcester Swimming Club have? They say they 'must' have a new competition size pool. Leaving aside the general public's use of it, how much per member will it cost? And how many of those members will actually compete, rather than just swim for recreation? What financial investment will the club make towards it?

CJH wrote:
How many members does Worcester Swimming Club have? They say they 'must' have a new competition size pool. Leaving aside the general public's use of it, how much per member will it cost? And how many of those members will actually compete, rather than just swim for recreation? What financial investment will the club make towards it?

CJH, I'd take it further than that. The people of Worcester only need a 6 lane pool an we will be paying that debt back for 40 years!

Any other outside body (swimming club, County Council, NHS, University) wants a bigger pool, then find the money and be prepared to contribute annually to its upkeep.

The City of Worcester can't make a fairer offer than that.

knick-knack wrote:

CJH wrote:
How many members does Worcester Swimming Club have? They say they 'must' have a new competition size pool. Leaving aside the general public's use of it, how much per member will it cost? And how many of those members will actually compete, rather than just swim for recreation? What financial investment will the club make towards it?

CJH, I'd take it further than that. The people of Worcester only need a 6 lane pool an we will be paying that debt back for 40 years!

Any other outside body (swimming club, County Council, NHS, University) wants a bigger pool, then find the money and be prepared to contribute annually to its upkeep.

The City of Worcester can't make a fairer offer than that.

I'm in full agreement, but what is most worrying about this is the inability of the council to see it that clearly.

Like a bunch of juveniles, they just want to build a bigger pool, and they are priming us to take on bigger debts than we can afford. My kids used to do this to me when they wanted something we couldn't really afford!

There is not an ounce of business acumen in this shower.

This is a debate about the fact that we can borrow some money, and so what are we going to get into debt for?

There are so many demands from the people of this city, and I think that the council has lost touch with reality.

How about getting into debt building new homes for those in need? We used to call it council housing. Central Government are lending vast sums for that at very low interest rates. We could probably afford to get into even more debt at those low rates!

If we are going to get into debt, then let it be for something worthwhile, and not as frivolous as a county standard swimming pool and gym.

DermotItis wrote:
This is a debate about the fact that we can borrow some money, and so what are we going to get into debt for?

There are so many demands from the people of this city, and I think that the council has lost touch with reality.

How about getting into debt building new homes for those in need? We used to call it council housing. Central Government are lending vast sums for that at very low interest rates. We could probably afford to get into even more debt at those low rates!

If we are going to get into debt, then let it be for something worthwhile, and not as frivolous as a county standard swimming pool and gym.

That would be 100 homes for Worcesters needy. Probably cheaper than housing them in rented property.

Having been involved with the swimming club in the past Worcester needs an olympic size pool, why build anything else? swimming has a massive following and Worcester has a good competative squad and with the city expanding all the time it can only be common sense to build a pool that's good enough for competition, but then when did common sense come into it?

green49 wrote:
Having been involved with the swimming club in the past Worcester needs an olympic size pool, why build anything else? swimming has a massive following and Worcester has a good competative squad and with the city expanding all the time it can only be common sense to build a pool that's good enough for competition, but then when did common sense come into it?

Wanting something and needing something are not the same. We need money spent on schools, hospitals, social services, roads...need I go on?

"During a passionate debate at the Guildhall last night, Councillor Marc Bayliss said the decision over what standard pool to create was one of the most vital decisions in a generation."

SERIOUSLY? REALLY????

Has Marc Bayliss seen what's going on in the real world?

This will only be the most vital decision in a generation if they decide to go ahead and spend money we don't have, mortgaging our futures even more than they already are.

These people aren't fit to work for us anymore. They need voting out at the next opportunity. Let's hope they haven't done more damage by then.

green49 wrote:
Having been involved with the swimming club in the past Worcester needs an olympic size pool, why build anything else? swimming has a massive following and Worcester has a good competative squad and with the city expanding all the time it can only be common sense to build a pool that's good enough for competition, but then when did common sense come into it?

Common sense is not so common.

― Voltaire

£2.8 million pounds to add an extra two lanes? You can buy an eight bedroom mansion with a four lane pool for that! Shop around!

green49 wrote:
Having been involved with the swimming club in the past Worcester needs an olympic size pool, why build anything else? swimming has a massive following and Worcester has a good competative squad and with the city expanding all the time it can only be common sense to build a pool that's good enough for competition, but then when did common sense come into it?

If they have such a massive following then put your hands in your pockets and pay for the thing yourself.

Other Groups/Clubs etc. have to buy their own facilities, why doesn't the swimming club?

At a time when both city and county councils are cutting back on services, commissioning some services and making people redundant I find it incredible that some councillors are putting so much effort into getting the city into more debt!
I wonder if the people of the city who pay their council tax would put a new swimming pool on a list of priorities for the council to address? I certainly wouldn't.
I appreciate that there are people who are committed to competitive swimming and represent the city but for the majority of residents it's not a priority.

CJH and Hwicce i was not saying we can afford it but if we build a new one there's no point in building the same thing, People do put there hands in there pockets too and they have in the past but there comes a time when vision for the future is needed, maybe its not the right time now but we should be planning for when it is, i do find some comments reguarding this based on little knowledge of the club, if we want to compete in the national swimming then we need the tools to do it, , get developers to put money into it, they take enough in profits when they build houses etc destroy our communities with large developments, make them pay towards it.

Why should developers pay for it? They are businesses, not charities. How long do you think they would remain in business if they use their profits for schemes such as this. I'm sure all the people they employ would be thrilled to know that they may not have a job, but oh goody - we can go swimming! You are being naive I'm afraid. The councillors who want to continue with this should consider the local elections coming up. No-one in their right mind would put a new pool on their election manifesto. Too many other problems to resolve first. As for not knowing anything about the swimming club - you are correct, I didn't know such a thing existed in Worcester, and do you know what? It means nothing to me now I know. In fact, I don't think I know a single person who actually goes swimming. However I do know people who are looking for a job, need medical treatment, and I drive over roads daily which shake me and my car to bits etc etc...

Lets face it the city council are fundamentally incapable of doing anything right.

If they weren't trying to get this new pool built people would be complaining about the state of the existing one and wanting their taxes to be spent on a decent pool.

If they were looking to build something new but slightly smaller there would be complaints that it wasn't big enough.

They can't please all the people all the time so why try to please anybody???

green49 wrote:
CJH and Hwicce i was not saying we can afford it but if we build a new one there's no point in building the same thing, People do put there hands in there pockets too and they have in the past but there comes a time when vision for the future is needed, maybe its not the right time now but we should be planning for when it is, i do find some comments reguarding this based on little knowledge of the club, if we want to compete in the national swimming then we need the tools to do it, , get developers to put money into it, they take enough in profits when they build houses etc destroy our communities with large developments, make them pay towards it.

I'm intrigued with your use of we. The Club may wish to compete in national swimming but most Worcester residents who use a pool just want a bit of water for some fun.

That's why, if, this pool is built it should have trainer pools, fun pools, wave machines and slides way before an 8-lane 50m pool.

If my money is going to be used to build a new pool then at least build one I would like to go to.

Hwicce wrote:

green49 wrote:
CJH and Hwicce i was not saying we can afford it but if we build a new one there's no point in building the same thing, People do put there hands in there pockets too and they have in the past but there comes a time when vision for the future is needed, maybe its not the right time now but we should be planning for when it is, i do find some comments reguarding this based on little knowledge of the club, if we want to compete in the national swimming then we need the tools to do it, , get developers to put money into it, they take enough in profits when they build houses etc destroy our communities with large developments, make them pay towards it.

I'm intrigued with your use of we. The Club may wish to compete in national swimming but most Worcester residents who use a pool just want a bit of water for some fun.

That's why, if, this pool is built it should have trainer pools, fun pools, wave machines and slides way before an 8-lane 50m pool.

If my money is going to be used to build a new pool then at least build one I would like to go to.

Nice point, in fact if it was a fun pool then I might want to go swimming occasionally again.

Swimming up and down lanes is boring, and I always seem to get kicked in the face by some competitive swimmer! I could get my own back on them if there was a slide.

Of course, the whole notion is just in fairy-tale land, and I am sure that the county council who are making heavy redundancies are not going to magic £5million out of the air to help, especially with an election in May and the Cons already know that they are going to get marmalised!

How selfish of some of you? a new pool can incorporate new wave machines, paddling pools training etc etc that's why i said build one that's bigger than we have now, what we have now is disgusting, costs a fortune to keep clean and we are an expanding city make the ones who take the profit from our areas when developing contribute to it, as reguard's being naive then i think not as i know more about this than some on here.

When the pool at Bennetts was built many years ago, we as taxpayers all agreed to a rate rise to build it, that won't happen this time as there is too much greed and to much selfishness.

The quote from Marc Bayliss makes me laugh - 'we will leave no stone unturned'. What happens if you put a stone into water - it sinks without trace! What an absolutely blindingly idiotic metaphor...they just haven't got a clue have they?

I doubt that we can afford a new pool much as I would like one.
I am not a member of any club but when I go to a pool I want to be able to swim. I am not interested in slides, wave machines or splashing about in shallow water, though many other people do want exactly these things.
If this pool is built it will need a lot of funding that doesn't come from ratepayers. It will also need to include a proper pool as well as play facilities otherwise we might as well not bother.

New Kid on the Block, my point exactly a pool for everyone.

Hwicce my use of we i mean all of us taxpayers.
A pool for all to use and as Worcester is going to expand if the developers have there way then we will need facilities for all and what we have now in the city is not good enough for everyone to use, i know money is hard to come by now but facilities needed to accomodate the people of Worcester needs to be built to suit all needs.
Any new Center like a pool and liesure center can be built in phases it does not all have to be done at once although that would be the ideal.

green49 wrote:
Hwicce my use of we i mean all of us taxpayers.
A pool for all to use and as Worcester is going to expand if the developers have there way then we will need facilities for all and what we have now in the city is not good enough for everyone to use, i know money is hard to come by now but facilities needed to accomodate the people of Worcester needs to be built to suit all needs.
Any new Center like a pool and liesure center can be built in phases it does not all have to be done at once although that would be the ideal.

Which bit if "we are skint" don't you and the spendthrifts on the city council understand?

How dare anybody try and get us into more debt, when we are already paying back large sums of interest on existing loans.

Taxpayers cannot afford higher taxes. Taxpayers are going hungry and charities are feeding them and their children.

There are thousands who will have big problems with the existing taxes, many will have to default. And you want us to get into debt to buy you and your pals a new swimming pool?

If this treble dip recession carries on, we may have to sell-off the existing pool and other council assets. Does that help you understand what is happening to this country?

Once the economy turns around, then it might be possible to get serious about a new pool, but until then I think it would be better if you all stopped making yourselves look so out of touch with reality.

Lew Smoralz says...
5:40pm Sat 16 Mar 13

green49 wrote:
Hwicce my use of we i mean all of us taxpayers.
A pool for all to use and as Worcester is going to expand if the developers have there way then we will need facilities for all and what we have now in the city is not good enough for everyone to use, i know money is hard to come by now but facilities needed to accomodate the people of Worcester needs to be built to suit all needs.
Any new Center like a pool and liesure center can be built in phases it does not all have to be done at once although that would be the ideal.

Which bit if "we are skint" don't you and the spendthrifts on the city council understand?

How dare anybody try and get us into more debt, when we are already paying back large sums of interest on existing loans.

Taxpayers cannot afford higher taxes. Taxpayers are going hungry and charities are feeding them and their children.

There are thousands who will have big problems with the existing taxes, many will have to default. And you want us to get into debt to buy you and your pals a new swimming pool?

If this treble dip recession carries on, we may have to sell-off the existing pool and other council assets. Does that help you understand what is happening to this country?

Once the economy turns around, then it might be possible to get serious about a new pool, but until then I think it would be better if you all stopped making yourselves look so out of touch with reality.

You should read my comment again as i didn't say now!!