Clacton: Doors open at new leisure centre - but protestors still unhappy (From Gazette)

Clacton: Doors open at new leisure centre - but protestors still unhappy

8:39am Monday 10th March 2008 in Search By Claire Owen

Clacton's multi-million pound leisure centre has officially opened its doors.

Olympic badminton hopeful, Caroline Westley, cut the ribbon at the £2.7 million Lifestyles building on Vista Road on Friday, along with Tendring Council chairman, Peter Balbirnie.

It was the culmination of a six-month project, led by leisure portfolio holder, Pierre Oxley.

Speaking in front of invited guests from town and parish councils and numerous other organisations, the councillor said: "I will never forget when I was elected nine years ago and saw the disgusting centre we had here.

"I had a commitment to put real investment into the leisure facilities to create a quality centre for the public.

"Over 400 people have joined since January so the proof is in the pudding."

Mr Oxley thanked the main contractors, Hutton Construction, as well as staff at the centre, in particular duty manager Lee Partridge who wrote a blog on the Tendring Council website throughout the works.

He also expressed his gratitude to members of the public who had been inconvenienced during the redevelopment, as well as Clacton County High School for their co-operation.

Former pupil Caroline Westley, 22, was one of four Olympic hopefuls to be given free use of the Lifestyles facilities, along with volleyball player Wayne Davies and skeet shooters Sally Bond and Lawrence Collier.

Miss Westley said: "I've been coming to the leisure centre for I don't know how long.

"The improved facilities will make my training even better so I can have a chance at London 2012."

Included in the redevelopment are an 80-station fitness suite, a spa pool and a coffee shop, as well as a dance and fitness studio and new changing rooms.

It was not all plain sailing for the launch of the Lifestyles project.

Representatives of the Fighting for Fair Fees (FFFF) campaign turned up on the day to protest against the rise in membership costs.

They were joined by Douglas Carswell MP and some Conservative district councillors, including Charlie Sambridge and Peter Halliday.

FFFF spokesman, Rev Anthony Spooner, said: "For a council-run facility, the fees are too high - not only in terms of long-standing members but for new members as well.

"The priority should be to get people fit, not make money."

Mr Carswell said he had gone along to listen to the campaigners' views.

"They have a legitimate concern," he told the Gazette.

"It's not my job to say what the prices should be, but they deserve to be listened to.

"They've been loyal to the leisure centre for a long time but now they feel they are being priced out."

He added: "They have been given an aggressive and arrogant response and it's not right."

Campaign leader, Carol Jaensch, said the protest would continue, with a petition still available to sign at Matt's Carousel newsagent in Rosemary Road, Clacton.