Future of Guinea Gap Baths to be decided this week

Jun 23 2010 by Liam Murphy, Heswall News

THE future of a Wallasey sports centre which was at the centre of controversial closure plans will be decided this week.

Guinea Gap Baths was initially slated for closure under the Strategic Asset Review, which also threatened the future of 11 libraries across the borough.

The plans were fiercely opposed by the Conservatives, and Seacombe Labour councillor Adrian Jones, who as mayor at the time had opposed the closure behind the scenes.

Last night, Cllr Jones said this was now “an opportunity for the new administration to put their money where their mouth is”.

The Conservative ruling cabinet will, on Thursday, be asked to approve ongoing costs of £640,000 a year to retain the facility.

Last night, council leader Jeff Green said there was no question they would stick by their campaign promise.

He said: “Labour, when they were in control of the council, put Guinea Gap on death row – only giving it funding until the election was out of the way.”

The former Labour-led council leadership withdrew closure plans for Guinea Gap – and later the libraries – but now the full cost of this decision will have to be dealt with by the Conservatives controlling Wirral Council, in their coalition with the Liberal Democrats.

Cllr Adrian Jones said: “The Tories made a great song and dance when the baths was threatened, but before the Con-Dem alliance took over on Wirral Labour took the baths out of any further threat.

“The Tories, in particular, made a great opportunistic song and dance about the baths when they were in opposition.

“Now they are in power, let’s hope their much vaunted support for Guinea Gap doesn’t turn out to have been just electioneering.”

But Jeff Green said: “I’m delighted we can make good on our promise and put Guinea Gap into the general funding of the council.

“But I will not be lectured by Labour – Adrian Jones did not vote with us to save it.”