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Prescotians Fight for Future as Knowsley Council Ignore Views

By on Saturday, October 23, 2010

 A historic Merseyside town is protesting the downgrading of its leisure centre and museum by fighting back against the council it accuses of selling it short.

Furious at Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council’s plans to replace Prescot Leisure Centre with a smaller pitch-side leisure facility and relocate Prescot Museum from an impressive Grade II listed Georgian house, Prescot residents have launched a campaign to get their views heard.

Whiston teenager Carl Cashman, 18, a former Higher Side student and political activist who was recently elected to the North West Liberal Youth Committee, is behind Save Prescot’s Facebook page, which so far boasts almost 600 members.

“At Knowsley’s consultation with Prescotians, 42.5 percent voted to refurbish the existing leisure centre,” said Carl. “Only 28 percent voted for Knowsley’s plans. Yet council officers have rubbished the first option and pushed for its closure, which the cabinet has now voted through.”

Councillor Ian Smith has backed the campaign and, as leader of Knowsley’s Liberal Democrats, attempted to confront Chief Executive Sheena Ramsey with the concerns of Prescotians in a regularly scheduled meeting. She refused to see him.

Cllr Smith delivered a petition containing 1,500 signatures prior to the cabinet meeting where the council’s plans were confirmed.

Knowsley’s actions are just the latest in a long line of events that have spelt disaster for the town. In the 1980s, the civic hall was demolished, to be replaced in the 1990s with a civic suite that lasted just a few years before being turned into welfare offices. Later, KMBC sanctioned town planning that diverted trade and traffic away from the centre and towards a retail development dominated by Tesco.

Eccleston Street, once the heart of business and commerce in the town, is now overrun by boarded-up shops and suffering visibly dwindling numbers of shoppers.

“What was the point of a consultation when KMBC were determined to ignore the views of ordinary Prescotians anyway?” said Cllr Smith. “We have so much to be proud of in Prescot, and we will not give up its future without a fight.”

KMBC’s plans for the leisure centre will leave Prescot Town Council without a home, and will also see the closure of Scotchbarn Swimming Pool, leaving Prescot without a pool.

“Save Prescot” is a grassroots campaign and is not affiliated to a political party.

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  1. Pingback: Knowsley Labour Councillors Defend Prescot Plans | Prescot Online

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