MP attacks Reform plans to axe swimming pool plan

A decision to scrap plans for a new swimming pool in Bradford was a "political one" that "Reform must take responsibility for", an MP has said.

Bradford East Labour MP Imran Hussain criticised the decision by the Reform-led authority to cancel the development of the £32m leisure centre on Squire Lane in Girlington.

A government grant of £20m was conditional on it being used for the centre, first approved in 2019m and is now expected to be returned.

In response, Stephen Place, council leader, said: "Imran Hussain and his party had a long time during which they could have built this development. They chose not to."

At a meeting last month, the council's executive committee announced it would be going against the recommendations of its own officers and would not proceed with plans for the pool.

The executive, which makes many of the council's decisions and is comprised of the leader and councillors with specific responsibilities, said the could not afford the extra money needed to get the leisure centre over the line, with no guarantee costs would not rise further.

Place said: "This choice made by the administration executive was purely based on fiscal common sense.

"The requirement of borrowing a further £11.9m in order to complete the project followed by shackling the Bradford taxpayer with a further £1.2m in annual costs for years was not in line with the pragmatic approach to Bradford's finances the administration has set for itself."

However, Hussain said that argument must be challenged following a major improvement in Bradford Council's funding, as part of a nationwide change.

He said: "Bradford Council has recently received £273m in funding from the Labour government following years in which I and others campaigned hard for our district to receive a fairer settlement.

"Yet Reform has chosen to return £20m of government investment and write off another £5.4m that has already been spent.

"That is a political choice, and Reform must take responsibility for it."

Swim England, the activity's governing body, said a primary school close to the site, Margaret McMillan Primary, only had 40% of Year 6 pupils able to meet the national curriculum requirement of being able to swim at least 25 metres.

The national average is around 75%

A spokesperson said: "Bradford has a shortage of available swimming pools and too many children across Bradford currently leave school unable to swim.

"We would urge the council to reconsider this decision."

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