Outrage over swimming pool closure
Outraged residents have accused Newham Council of planning to shut down a historic Stratford leisure centre.
The main pool at Atherton Leisure Centre in Romford Road has been closed for ceiling repair works since May.
Atherton user John McHale said: “I am outraged.
“I have used the main pool since the ‘70s.”
Mr McHale said that it seemed the council was using “underhand” means to close the Atherton Leisure Centre in order to make way for Olympic venues including the Aquatics Centre, which will open to the public after London 2012.
You may also want to watch:
Similar accusations were levelled at the council last year when it closed the centre’s sauna after disclosing that it could not fund its �300,000 plus repair costs.
A spokesman for Newham Council said: “The main swimming pool at the Atherton Leisure Centre in Romford Road, Stratford, is to remain closed because the works programme to the ceiling is taking longer than expected.
Most Read
- 1 Newham to start weekly recycling collections
- 2 Anonymous tip off could hold key to murder of Sami Sidhom three years later
- 3 Town hall chiefs back £3m purchase of Plaistow property for rough sleeper centre
- 4 Operose: Addressing 'understandable' concerns over GP takeover
- 5 Police officer jailed for GBH after injuring man in Forest Gate
- 6 Body found in search for missing Newham man
- 7 Housing campaigners to stage protest in Canning Town over empty homes
- 8 Jailed: Newham men who raped and robbed women in Hackney home
- 9 Santino Dymiter murder: Teens given life terms for 'savage' gang killing
- 10 Women's FA Cup: West Ham 11 Chichester & Selsey 0
“Entry to the rest of the building and use of other facilities continue as normal.
“Activities and clubs that use the main pool will continue to switch to the smaller training pool or other leisure facilities across the borough.
“Newham Council thanks users for their continued patience and apologises for any inconvenience the closure has caused.”
