For the last three years I’ve been calling for the Conservatives to come clean about their 22 year old pledge to provide a swimming pool in Plymstock (some of my leaflets on matter are above). Today, the Tory Council’s consultation on the Acquatics Strategy closed but before it did I submitted comments on behalf of the many local residents who I have spoken to over the last few years calling for the Tories to come clean about their plans for a pool in Plymstock.
To save you reading the whole 67 page consultation document I can tell you that Plymstock warrants only two mentions in the entire document and neither of them relate to the provision of a swimming pool in the town. This breaks the promise that local Tories were elected on in the clearest way – in their own policy document!
The document does make the vaguest of references to a swimming pool in Sherford – the proposed new town near Plymstock. This was Labour’s suggestion and it is good to see that the Tories have not only broken their own promise but adopted our policy in the same breath.
It is staggering that the Conservatives have promised a pool for Plymstock for the last 22 years and despite having been in control of the Council for the majority of this time have failed miserably to deliver a swimming pool. Their Aquatics Strategy seeks to plan the aquatic needs of the city over the next decade but clearly they have no plans for a Plymstock pool in the next ten years. So surely the Tories aren’t still promising a Plymstock Pool? Well, according to their website they are – as their local election manifesto is still online and promises: “To provide swimming facilities in the north of Plymouth and at Plymstock”
Vague promises about building a pool in Sherford won’t wash with local people having been let down so comprehensively by this strategy. The Tories were elected promising a pool in Plymstock not anywhere else. This strategy highlights that Plymstock won’t be getting a swimming pool. I think it is about time the Leader of the Council, Plymstock Councillor, Vivien Pengelly, apologised to local residents for misleading them for over two decades and breaking her own party’s election promise.
I’ve replied to the consultation with a simple question for the Council to answer– where is the pool you promised in Plymstock? I know many people in Plymstock will be asking the same question.
Cllr Pete Smith, Labour’s Leisure spokesman put it well when he said “Broken manifesto promises are something we are sadly getting used to from this council. Whether it is not selling CityBus or providing a pool in Plymstock the council’s broken promises are stacking up.” The failure to include provision for a Plymstock Pool in their own strategy for swimming pools underline how little respect the current batch of Tories have for their own manifesto promises.
On 6 May, Vivien Pengelly, will be standing for re-election. Having sold CityBus against the will of local people and now having failed to deliver the pool she promised for her voters isn’t it time she was held to account? If you live in Plymstock – use your vote on 6 May wisely.
I have written to Vivien Pengelly asking her to apologise for misleading voters about the Plymstock Pool – I will post her reply on this site. Let’s see what she says.
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[...] A few days ago I attacked the Tories for failing to mention their promised Plymstock Pool in the 67 page Aquatics Strategy for Plymouth. Now, Tory Council Leader, Cllr Vivien Pengelly, has said that “There will be a swimming pool. It will be at the Plymstock end of Sherford and work will be starting this year.” Strong stuff, but we’ve heard this type of media pleasing rhethoric before – 22 years ago in fact (when I was eight years old!). [...]