Calls for Labour apology over Rye leisure centre claims

Speaking during Rother District Council’s cabinet meeting today (Monday, October 5), Carl Maynard said he believed the upset caused by the unfounded claims warrants a formal apology.

He added any claims about the centre closing in the run-up to the election were untrue.

“This authority expects a full apology from the Labour Party for misinformation they spread at the time of the General Election around the imminent closure of Rye leisure pool,” he said.

“Quite frankly that sort of misinformation goes a very long way to upsetting users of those facilities and it was quite unnecessary and quite uncalled for.

“Bearing in mind it was in the public domain that at that time, we were seeking a new contractor and there had never been any suggestion at all of closing any of the leisure facilities in Rother.

“So I look forward to that apology.”

The centre was brought up as the new contractor for the leisure centres in Rother was chosen.

Their identity is yet to be revealed but the new deal will save the district council £372,765 as the operation for Bexhill Leisure Centre, Pool and the Rye centre will all be taken over by the new contractor.

The lease for Rye is ten years and only two and a half years for both the Bexhill centres.

Members agreed this was good news for the district including Lord Ampthill who called it a “remarkably successful development.”

Only one tender was received for the contract but they proposed to invest £526,000 in Rye Sports Centre, new equipment at Bexhill Leisure Centre and maintenance improvements at Bexhill Leisure Pool.

The contract will start on April 1, 2016.

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