Ewan Lamont - Save Victoria Leisure Centre

Stop Labour Destroying Victoria Leisure Centre – Join our Demonstration

Ewan Lamont writes: “After Britain doing so well in the Olympics it is sad to witness Labour taking apart our city's sport services and heritage, especially a site once used by local hero Rebecca Addlington.

“Labour has deliberately withheld funds from the Victoria Leisure Centre for the last ten years allowing it to become rundown and shabby. They have been trying to close the site since 1993 and it is likely that the talk of building a new centre is just a smokescreen as they plan to shut the building early this year without planning permission for a new building.

“Even if the new build did go ahead it is still the wrong course of action as it will cost over £8 million and provide less facilities than we have at the moment. A full renovation of the existing site would only cost £1.3 million.

“The centre is a vitally important part of the local community and provides many popular facilities and classes which are well attended, despite the lack of investment by the Labour council.

“Rather than demolishing it, I believe the Council should be spending money renovating it and the surrounding area. Just like St Pancras station in London, the centre should be a local icon and a source of civic pride. We support the local campaign group that did such a good job stalling their first attempt to close it. Labour has been stopped once before and can be stopped again. If I am elected as the MP for Nottingham East I will fight tooth and nail to keep the leisure centre open.

“If you want to keep the Victoria Leisure Centre open, come and join the demonstration on Saturday 6th February at 11.30 a.m., meet in Market Square; bring family, friends, goggles and swimming hats!”