Liberal Democrats in Shaw and Crompton have handed in a 960 name petition to Oldham Council protesting against the decision to close the hundred year old baths.

The baths closed in May following a failure of the boiler and shortly after the local elections, the Labour administration in Oldham announced that the closure would be permanent.

The petition, gathered online and through street stalls from residents of Shaw and Crompton, calls on the council to re-open the pool immediately.

Lib Dem parliamentary spokesman for Oldham East and Saddleworth and Shaw resident Richard Marbrow said, “Shaw has had a swimming pool for well over a hundred years and Oldham Labour want to throw that history and a much loved community facility away.”

Crompton councillor Dave Murphy said, “Labour councillors made commitments to keep the pool open until a new pool at Royton was opened. They have completely broken that promise and we will hold their feet to the fire until they reverse course.”

The Lib Dem controlled district executive for Shaw and Crompton has offered money from district funds to Oldham council to re-open the pool but has received no response.

Richard Marbrow added, “We are now being told that the pool is too damaged to re-open, because the Labour administration did not take immediate action when the boiler broke down. If that is the case the Liberal Democrats will campaign for a new pool to be built.”

“Shaw and Crompton deserves decent leisure facilities and I will work alongside the borough and parish councillors for the area to get a pool re-opened in our town.”

http://www.richardmarbrow.org.uk/re_open_crompton_pool