letter to Weston Mercury - Councillor Mike Bell

CONSERVATIVE Councillor Richard Nightingale says that Hutton Moor is the best site for a new swimming pool for Weston. What a U-turn from the man who once saw himself as the Tropicana's saviour to now being a cheerleader for abandoning the dream of getting our seafront pool back!

Weston once had two pools on the seafront - at the Tropicana and Knightstone. Previous generations of town leaders recognised that having swimming facilities on the seafront made sense for both residents and visitors alike.

Those running North Somerset Council seem to be the only people around who think that we don't need a pool at the Trop and I cannot for the life of me understand why. We do need a second pool for Weston. We do need an industry-leading family water park. And we need it at the Tropicana.

For years we've had a long line of excuses from the Town Hall. We have been told that pools cannot make money. We've been told that the council has no cash. We've been told that there are no private investors interested.

But what is this? Now the council has found approaching £2million to renovate the Tropicana and turn it into a café and events space to 'build on the Banksy legacy'. They've found private sector partners to help invest an estimated £9million in a second pool at Hutton Moor. Both done without asking local residents what they want even once.

It appears that there is a bottomless well of cash to deliver what Town Hall bosses want, but no cash at all when it comes to delivering what many local residents want.

My plea to the council, as it has been over the many years since the Tropicana pool closed, is simple. Please sit down with those interested in developing the Tropicana, including the Trop Trust, and look seriously at what we can do to get the covered seafront pool that so many want. It's not rocket science and I am certain that a lot of folk would wish you well in the endeavour.

COUNCILLOR MIKE BELL

Weston Central Ward

The Crescent, Milton