They trashed Coseley Baths - what next?

Find a list of those councillors below but, first, let's examine that poor excuse in their election literature:


"Labour's 18 years in control of Dudley Council was responsible for the lack of investment in Coseley Baths."

It was actually 9 years - starting after a minority Conservative administration in 1992-1994. Capital investment in the then 5 leisure centres was on a 5-year cycle. Coseley Baths was due in 2003 but the Conservatives took control and cancelled it.

Why did the controlling-group not invest in Coseley Baths in all its past 7 years?

If the roof needed replacing, it wouldn't have mattered how much investment had been made in Coseley Baths - it would have cost the same.

A building with at least 20 years more life, which would cost £10-20million to build now, was trashed for the sake of a roof repair at a fraction of the cost!

People who used the two 33.5metre pools at Bilston (5-lane) and Coseley (7-lane) will be left to crowd into the proposed 25 metre pool at Bilston (8-lane).

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The roll of dishonour

These are the 43 councillors who voted to close and demolish Coseley Baths and also (with the odd exception) to give themselves a 25% increase in allowances: 


North Dudley


Upper Gornal & Woodsetton Ward

Cllr. Doreen Ameson (re-elected this year)
Cllr. Julian Ryder
Cllr. David Simms - also voted for closure and demolition as a Cabinet member


Gornal Ward

Cllr. Tim Wright - Chairman of North Dudley Area Committee who kept shutting us up (re-elected this year)
Cllr. Anne Millward - Deputy Council Leader until May 2009 onwards, then Council Leader
Cllr. David Stanley - Cabinet member responsible for pushing through demolition



Sedgley Ward

Cllr. David Caunt - Council Leader when closure decision made
His daughter, Tina Westwood, a first-time candidate, elected this year to replace John Perry.
Cllr. Michael Evans - also voted for closure and demolition as a Cabinet member 


Central Dudley


Netherton Woodside & St. Andrew's Ward

Cllr. John D. Davies


Halesowen


Halesowen North Ward

Cllr. Jeff Hill (re-elected this year)
Cllr. Karen Shakespeare - Cabinet member responsible for the decision to close
Cllr. Lesley Faulkner - also voted for demoltion as a Cabinet member

Halesowen South Ward

Cllr. John Woodall, J.P. (re-elected this year)
Cllr. Alan Taylor
Cllr. David Vickers

Hayley Green & Cradley South Ward

Cllr. Ray Burston - did, however, vote against last year's 25% rise in councillors' allowances (re-elected this year)
Cllr. Kenneth Turner
Cllr. Hazel Turner

Belle Vale Ward

Cllr. Jill Nicholls (re-elected this year)
Cllr. Bob James
Cllr. Jennifer Dunn

Stourbridge

Lye & Wollescote Ward

Cllr. Adrian Turner - also voted for closure and demolition as a Cabinet member and responsible for the demolition process.

Pedmore & Stourbridge East Ward

Cllr. Colin Wilson (re-elected this year)
Cllr. Ian Kettle
Cllr. Les Jones - Deputy Council Leader from May 2009 onwards

Norton Ward

 

Cllr. Angus Adams (re-elected this year)
Cllr. Heather Rogers
Cllr. Mike Attwood

Wollaston & Stourbridge Town Ward

Cllr. Malcolm Knowles (re-elected this year)
Cllr. Margaret Cowell
Cllr. Nicolas Barlow

Amblecote Ward

 
Cllr. Liz Walker - also voted for closure and demolition as a Cabinet member (re-elected this year)
Cllr. Colin Banks

Brierley Hill

Wordsley Ward

 
Cllr. Harry Nottingham retired (replacement candidate elected this year)
Cllr. Ena Blood
Cllr. Geoffery Southall

Kingswinford South Ward

 
Cllr. Patrick Harley (re-elected this year)
Cllr. Peter Miller - also voted for closure as a Cabinet member
Cllr. David Blood - also voted for demolition as a Cabinet member

Kingswinford North & Wall Heath Ward

Cllr. Denise Harley

Brockmoor & Pensnett Ward

Cllr. Sue Greenaway

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Council-directors responsible

 

Director of Urban Environment

John Millar proposed closure and demolition (click here for some interesting information).

Chief Executive

 

John Polychronakis is paid more each year (over £150,000) than was invested in Coseley Baths during the past ten years.

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