Helen meets Minister over Civic Centre and county swimming pools

North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan has met with Culture, Media and Sport Minister Stuart Andrew MP for a discussion over the state of council-funded leisure facilities in the county, particularly with the potential of bankruptcy at Shropshire Council in the coming months.

The meeting was set-up after questions from both Helen Morgan and fellow rural Shropshire MP Philip Dunne on swimming pool provision directed to the Minister back in February. Helen stood up in the House of Commons to raise the state of play in the county and the difficulties in providing leisure facilities across sparsely populated rural areas.

At the meeting with the Minister, Helen also took the time to mention the ongoing campaign from local residents to Save Our Civic in Whitchurch, following its closure due to RAAC. The MP has been promised another meeting to specifically address the Civic Centre issue and continue in her efforts to persuade Government to fund the project.

Helen Morgan, MP for North Shropshire, said, “Given the perilous state of Shropshire Council’s finances, I am very concerned for what might come of vital public services across the county in the coming months and years. Leisure facilities like swimming pools are too often the first to bear the brunt of cuts, despite the huge benefits they have to the public.

“It is always useful to have time in front of Ministers, especially over important local issues which are too often left unaddressed by central Government. I am glad to have talked through my concerns and to have used the time to once again mention the campaign to Save Our Civic in Whitchurch, which we are still seeking funding to support.”