Call for new company to run Southsea Pyramids
CLOSED The Pyramids on Southsea seafront. Picture: Malcolm Wells (120121-5411)
PORTSMOUTH’S Tories have called on the city council to find a new company to run the Pyramids Centre.
Their criticisms of Southsea Community Leisure Limited – the not-for-profit group which runs the centre – came as the pool remained closed this week following a leak.
Conservative spokesman for culture, sport and leisure, Cllr Jim Fleming, said despite claims that it would be run at no cost to the taxpayer, the council had now paid the company almost £1m since they took over in November 2010.
‘We would all love to keep the Pyramids open, but not at any cost,’ he said. ‘This was a bad deal for the city taxpayer and the money now needed to just keep the doors open is unsustainable, especially when we look at all the services that this council is looking to cut over the next few months.
‘If anything we need a company with a proven track record of success to come in to give the Pyramids its best chance of long-term success and at a reduced cost to taxpayers.’
But managing director of Southsea Community Leisure, Gary Milne, said they were on track to receive around £350,000 from the council for running costs during this financial year, compared with more than £850,000 required by the previous company during its final 12 months.
‘Any private company that comes in will not be able to match our investment in the site,’ he said. ‘And they will be running it at a profit, which means that money will not be going back into the community. ‘People should stop using the Pyramids as a political football, because it damages confidence and affects the number of people we get through the doors.’
He added that in the last year 212,000 people had visited the centre – more than in the previous seven years – and he hoped to be running the centre at no cost to the taxpayer by June 2013.
Leader of the council, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, said the council took the decision to subsidise the Pyramids when the business plan originally put forward by Southsea Community Leisure didn’t work.
‘We are committed to keeping the centre open,’ he said. ‘And I am concerned that some Conservative councillors want to drive the company running the Pyramids out of business.’
Repairs to the pools are continuing and Mr Milne said he hopes it will reopen by half-term.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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Comments
There are 11 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
TheDarkDeacon
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 05:53 PMThis is just a LD party political piece!
TheDarkDeacon
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 05:52 PMIs Gary Milne a Lib Dem or did Vernon-Jackson write this piece!!! This story is just a Lib Dem defence piece!!!
PJ68
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 10:45 AMOf course it's a joke to be spending so much money on this especially after being told it wouldn't cost us anything, but what I found funny about this story is the news felt the need to tell us that its being run by a not for profit company. If it needs a million quid of our money just to stay open I'd have thought it was a given that its not for profit
southsearesidents
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 10:22 PMIt has always run at a loss and at great expense to tax payers. Close it down!
Olepompey
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 10:16 PMSome facts would be useful: 1) Despite the News caption, The Pyramids is not closed. The pool is, but a growing number of people are using the gym, spa, treatment rooms, soft play area and attending the many classes. 2) The pool is closed because the previous management under various administrations spent so little on maintenance that the place was a wreck when the present company took over. 3) It is costing us tax payers a lot less than it used to 4) The facilities are much improved. Will you politicians stop using selective quotes and the News stop using extreme head lines to sell papers. Somebody here is trying to do some good in Portsmouth, let them get on with it.
Le Critique
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 08:24 PMIt was opened by Timmy Mallet when I was a kid and I often take my nephew swimming down there. The kids still love it. The kids still have to have some enjoyment that doesn't come from a PS3 or and Xbox. It seems that many of the Youth clubs around town have been closed down. I hope they manage to sort something out with the Pyramids.
Little Al
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 06:05 PMComment removed by moderator
Little Al
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 05:56 PMComment removed by moderator
Little Al
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 05:53 PMComment removed by moderator
Flying bull
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 05:34 PMClose it down leave it for a few years to catch fire, leave it for a few more years the pull it down simples.
Appy pompeii
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 03:41 PMClose it and put money into PFC :)
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