Vandals smash windows at pool

May 20 2008 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

A WIRRAL leisure centre has been closed after vandals smashed windows and forced a pool to be drained.

The popular recreation centre survived an attempt to close it down five years ago, after local people were asked their opinion of the plans.

But, at the weekend, two six by four foot windows over the training pool were smashed raining shards of glass into the pool below.

Manager Myles Noonan said the windows had been made of toughened glass and would have to be replaced before the pool could be cleaned and refilled with 25,000 litres of water, which takes some 30 hours.

He said: “It happened over Saturday night and we found it on Sunday. They had even ripped the covers off the extractor fans, presumably in an attempt to break into the building.” But he said that such vandalism was “a rare occurrence” these days and the centre, after refurbishment in recent years, was “the busiest we have been for a long time”.

The vandalism was condemned by Leasowe councillor Ian Lewis who said: “Yet again, we are seeing a hard-core minority ruin the quality of life for the law-abiding majority.

“The community in Leasowe fought hard to retain their leisure centre and pool and it is important the council takes whatever steps are necessary to reduce these kinds of attacks in the future.

“It is particularly disappointing the teaching pool, which does so much to help local kids overcome their fear of water, should be closed over the next week.”

Leasowe Recreation Centre, on the Leasowe Estate halfway between Wallasey and Moreton, was opened in 1976, and has two swimming pools.

One is a 25m training and leisure pool, the other a 12.5m learning pool, and it is the second, smaller pool, which has been most affected by the vandalism and will remain closed through the week.

The centre also has a multi-activity sports hall in addition to a practice hall and three squash courts, and a weight training room.

In 2002, Wirral Council backed down on plans to build a new £4m leisure centre after a ballot of local residents and customers.

The new facility, which included a six-lane competition pool, was proposed as part of a £7m private finance initiative at Wallasey school.

It was intended to replace Leasowe leisure centre, which needed £1.5m to cover immediate repairs and bring the centre up to modern standards.

The controversial plan had been opposed by residents and customers because the replacement will not be like for like.

It also raised the spectre of job cuts as the new facility would be run by a private company on behalf of the council.

An urgent £68,000 re-build of the Leasowe centre’s main entrance to make it more accessible to the disabled began shortly afterwards, followed by further improvement works.

A Wirral council spokesperson said: “On Saturday evening, Leasowe Recreation Centre was vandalised resulting in the closure of both swimming pools.

“During the incident, several windows were broken with glass falling in and around the pool area.

“We have been able to clean the main pool and are hoping to open it later today. However, the Teaching Pool is likely to be closed for approximately one week.”

liammurphy