
Park and Nye Bevan swimming pools decision 'a victory for workers'
'Raising charges'
Mr Collins said the union had "fought tirelessly to protect these vital facilities and we're pleased to see that the voices of staff, service users, and residents have been heard"."Public services like swimming pools and ranger services are lifelines for our communities, providing jobs, health benefits and vital green spaces."Thanks to our members' determination and the support of key councillors, we've saved more than 70 jobs and secured the future of these services. "We'll continue to work constructively with the council to ensure these facilities remain sustainable for years to come."West Lancashire Council had been due to agree its budget for the coming year at a meeting on 26 February.A revised budget must now be agreed before the end of March.In a statement following the decision to reverse its pool closures plan, the council said its budget gap had been forecast to increase from £2.11m to £3.39m in 2026-27, and then reach £4.11m the following year.It said councillors now needed to "look at all alternatives, which will include additional cuts to council services and raising charges".
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


BBC News
11 hours ago
- BBC News
Union calls for Doncaster council staff to have pay cut reversed
Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones is to meet with the GMB Union next month to begin discussions over pay restoration, union leaders have GMB have launched a campaign to have the City of Doncaster Council bring the salaries of its staff in line with rates paid by neighbouring Barnes, a local GMB organiser, said: "This campaign is about fairness. Our members have carried this council through austerity, through Covid, and now through a cost-of-living crisis. They deserve to have what was taken from them restored."Doncaster Council imposed pay cuts in 2012 which ranged between one and 2.5% for anyone paid over £14,733. The GMB has stated its campaign to have 2012 salary cuts reversed is gaining pace and "more and more workers" are joining the union every leaders have told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Mayor Jones has agreed to meet them in September to begin discussions on GMB's LDRS understands the GMB would like to have an agreement worked into the budget discussions beginning in December members are calling on the long-term impact of the cuts to be reviewed, as well as for pay to be GMB has revealed it will be raising a question at the next full council meeting in September regarding spending on agency says the 2012 cuts have left council staff worse off year after year, especially with the cost of living continuing to leaders argue, while agency workers are being brought in at a premium cost, loyal council staff have yet to see their pay fully LDRS has approached Mayor Jones' office to confirm the meeting with the GMB. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North


BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Gossip: Leeds near deal for Okafor
Leeds are close to reaching an agreement with AC Milan for Switzerland forward Noah Okafor, 25, with the fee set to be in the region of £17.2m (20m euros). (Florian Plettenberg, external)Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip columnFollow the gossip column on BBC Sport


Wales Online
2 days ago
- Wales Online
'I bought abandoned Welsh fortress for £500k – people said I had midlife crisis but now it's worth £3m'
'I bought abandoned Welsh fortress for £500k – people said I had midlife crisis but now it's worth £3m' In a brave purchase back in May 2017, Mike Conner parted with £555,000 to buy a Napoleonic fort in Pembrokeshire, but now it's back on the market for a staggering £3m Mike Conner parted with a whopping £555,000 to buy Thorne Island (Image: Adrian White) A plucky man who was thought to be having a "midlife crisis" after buying an abandoned Welsh fortress could now be set to reap the benefits of his labour. In a daring purchase in May 2017, Mike Conner parted with £555,000 to buy Thorne Island, a looming Napoleonic fort near Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire that dates back to the 19th century. For Mike, a 52-year-old former software firm owner, the purchase marked the beginning of an arduous five-year renovation project that required six men to live on the island for roughly four years. Most of the difficulty lay in the fortress's isolated location, as materials had to be flown in via helicopter, something Mike admitted was "incredibly hard". With such an ambitious project, it came as no surprise that he faced comments describing his efforts as a "midlife crisis". Most of the project's difficulty lay in the fortress's isolated location (Image: Strutt and Parker / SWNS) He jokingly told the BBC: "Many have described it as a midlife crisis. I really didn't know what I was getting myself into." Article continues below Previously used for parties, the structure had lain unused for 17 years but now boasts a range of amenities, including a nightclub, forty beds, and four en-suite bathrooms. It appears Mike is set to capitalise on his investment, as the property is now up for sale for £3m. Constructed in the 1850s to safeguard Milford Haven from the French Navy, the fort was transformed into a hotel in 1947 and used for parties until its sale in 1999. Mike faced comments describing his efforts as a "midlife crisis" (Image: Strutt and Parker / SWNS) Next to own the fort was Von Essen Hotels, which planned to invest £4m to revive it and install a cable car from the mainland. Speaking about the fortress's condition when he bought it, Mike revealed: "There was no electric, no water, and any food or waste needed to come back off. My wife was pretty cross when I first said I bought it; she said she would stay once it had a flushing loo, which is pretty reasonable." The efforts required to bring the site back up to scratch proved considerable. It was no picnic for the workers living on the island, who were unable to shower for stretches of two weeks. The property is now up for grabs for a cool £3m (Image: Strutt and Parker / SWNS) If they wanted to charge their phones, they had to use a generator, and for bathing, they would simply have to make do with a "dip in the sea". Mike described this as "tough living". Article continues below Now complete, Mike has shared his thoughts about the fortress's potential. He noted that it could be a draw for tourists visiting Wales. In an alternative vision, he also imagined the site as a nightlife destination, which he says could host "unbelievable raves".