Council apologise over Cradley Leisure Centre closure at last - but only to Harry! (From Halesowen News)

Council apologise over Cradley Leisure Centre closure at last - but only to Harry!

3:40pm Thursday 19th March 2009

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Dudley Council has been forced to apologise over its handling of the closure of leisure facilities at Cradley High.

The stunning revelation was made at Halesowen Area Committee last Wednesday March 11 when it was announced an investigation into the matter by the Local Government Ombudsman had found evidence of “maladministration.”

Cradley resident Harry Bloomer told the committee he had received a letter from interim director of children’s services Jane Porter, apologising for misunderstanding and confusion caused by the public consultation process which led to the closure of leisure facilities.

The ombudsman’s investigation, requested by Mr Bloomer, also criticises a lack of structure in the consultation process and orders the council to carry out a review of any future procedures.

Mr Bloomer said: “This confirms the views of those who became involved in the so-called consultation process which degenerated into a fiasco.”

The decision to close the leisure facilities was taken last summer by Dudley’s cabinet member for children’s services councillor Liz Walker.

She infuriated both residents and ward councillors after telling campaigners the decision to shut facilities had already been made before the end of the consultation period.

Halesowen Area Committee had twice refused to recommend disposal of facilities at the Homer Hill Road site and have requested a copy of the Ombudsman’s report be made available.

Speaking after the meeting Mr Bloomer said the report proved the council had ignored its tax payers and said a public apology should be made to the various sport clubs who had been forced to relocate.

He said: “Though the apology is addressed to me it’s these people who have lost out – there’s no apology to them from Dudley Council.

“Unfortunately their facilities were taken away from them without any proper consultation, which the ombudsman has agreed.

“All the time cllr Walker was doing exactly what she wanted. The council have let the people down.”

Stourbridge MP Lynda Waltho accused the council of treating the consultation as a “tick-box” exercise.

A spokesman for Dudley Council said: “Following his complaint, we have apologised to Mr Bloomer for any misunderstanding and confusion that may have occurred during the difficult process of closing a school and its leisure facilities."

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