LIB DEMS WELCOME RETHINK ON LEISURE

The Rossendale Lib Dems have welcomed the appearance of an additional option that will be proposed at next week's critical Council meeting that will determine the future of the Valley's leisure facilities. This new option proposes to keep open all of Rossendale's leisure facilities for the next financial year, with an independent review to be set up to examine their long term future.

Group Leader Catherine Pilling, who represents a ward in Haslingden that would have seen it's swimming baths close under the original set of proposals, commented, 'I welcome this complete rethink on leisure that, if supported at next week's Council meeting, will keep all of our facilities open for the foreseeable future. This is because the original plan for closure was based on panic and had been hastily put together, with rational decision making seemingly paralysed!'

'I also am satisfied that we will now have a thorough review, as there are still some difficult choices to make in the future for us to be certain about the future direction of leisure and culture for the valley.'

LibDem Parliamentary candidate Dale Mulgrew added, 'This is a triumph of sense over folly; and I acknowledge the huge chorus of public opinion who voiced that this was a step too far. Our party stood very much shoulder to shoulder in support of the public on this, and we are pleased that there will be no knee jerk closures.'