SpArC: The Conservative Administration of Shropshire Council have made it clear that they want to cut funding to all leisure centres, including SpArC by 2017-18. Whilst this is bad news for all our leisure centres, this is particularly bad for SpArC as this is the only major leisure facility for miles incorporating a pool, fitness suite and theatre. It also plays a key role for local schools’providing swimming lessons etc.
ACTION
Lib Dem Councillors Heather Kidd,
Charlotte Barnes and Nigel Hartin have:
1. Pushed hard to get the Council to have 200 photo voltaic cells fitted on the roof of SpArC before the ‘Feed In Tariff’ was reduced. This should dramatically help offset energy costs.
2.They are continuing to put pressure on Shropshire Council to recognise the key contribution that SpArC makes to our community and review their intentions.
and
3. They are also pressing them to come up with an energy use reduction scheme and further insulation
The SpArC Marketing Group are also running a crowd funding scheme to try and raise £50,000 in the near future to help keep the centre open. Their website can be found at www.savethesparc.org and the crowd funding at www.podiumpartners.org (search sparc). Meanwhile I have been working with local Councillors Charlotte Barnes and Nigel Hartin both to get money saving measures such as solar panels and to get the Council to review its proposals for rural leisure centres.
STOP PRESS: Cllr Malcolm Pate the Leader of Shropshire Council will be coming to a meeting of the Local Joint Committee on 14th April in Bishops Castle to explain the cuts in services his Administration proposes to make. I will advertise the venue as soon as I know. Please make every effort to come!