Freeeeeeeeee Leith Waterworld!

Check the expiry date!

The last weekend of Leith Waterowrld before the Council/Edinburgh Leisure locks the doors on Sunday 8 January.  The Councillors voted against the motion put forward by Cllr Alison Johnstone on 22 December to give Leith Waterworld a stay of execution, at least until the Commie was "open to the public" (as promised by SNP Cllr Cardownie in 2007, and agreed by full Council) and to give them time to undertake and scrutinize the impact closure would have of various user groups.

Just because the Cllrs have given up on Leith Waterworld, it doesn't mean we have.  Splashback! will continue to oppose closure, and highlight the lack of due process within the Council's decision making. The closing date for the sale has been set for February 8th. 

• We will be making an formal complaint to the Council, regarding behaviour in the Chamber on 22 Dec which we believe contravenes the Councillor's Code of Conduct.
• We have submitted requests to the Council for the full operating costs of Leith Waterworld under the Freedom of Information Act.  Edinburgh Leisure  refused to release these to us.
• We have submitted further FOI requests regarding the sale of the ground lease
• We are looking into potential breaches of due process in regards to the Council's obligations under the Equalities Act 2010, and Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008
• We will continue to collect signatures, and hand our petition into the Council shortly.
• We will contnue to man the SUB outside Leith Waterworld this weekend during opening hours - please do drop by and see us!
• We'll be going for a swim tomorrow!

Swimming against the tide

 

Following today's decision in the Council Chambers to force through the closure Leith Waterworld...

"We are very disappointed and astonished that the Council have not been able to meet their commitment to the people of Edinburgh to keep Leith Waterworld open until the Royal Commonwealth Pool is fully reopened to the public.  We are extremely concerned that the administration have not followed due process, particularly in relation to fostering equality in the city.

Cllr Brock did not want to go into details today.  Is she, or indeed the council, in possession of the full facts?  This SNP/Lib Dem administration is making decisions about service provision for children and the disabled in Leith based on innuendo and rumour.  Over the three weeks the administration have refused to engage with the campaign and provide full and fair information.  Cllr Brock has repeatedly provided different and misleading details on the costs and the lack of consultation with the community.

There was no substantive debate on the issues in the Chamber, simply ad hominem attacks on Councillors who listen to their communities.  SNP Cllr Cardownie’s statement that he would not have made his promise to the people of Edinburgh in 2007 if he knew it would be taken literally is beyond belief. 

Can any commitment he, or Cllr Brock, now makes be relied on?  This is symptomatic of the disconnect that exists between this administration and the people of Edinburgh. 

This is the not the end.  We will continue to oppose this closure until the doors are locked.  We will now enjoy Christmas with our families and will consider all our options."

Splashmob!

This Saturday 17 December:

SPLASHMOB... Come show your support in a crazy outfit!

Press photographers will be there to take some pics for the papers.

Bring the whole family... all ages welcome, the more the merrier! Get dressed up in anything water/swimming/ocean/beach-themed (armbands, flippers, snorkel, mermaid suit, beach hat, hula skirt, fish mask, hawaiian shirt etc etc), bring placards and instruments!

Get ready to dance, there'll be some music! Gather 10am for 10.30 outside Leith Waterworld.
Join this event on Facebook

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The SUB will be parked outside the pool again this Friday to Sunday to collect petition signatures. If you can help man the SUB, please email splashbackedinburgh@gmail.com