A SCOTTISH Tory councillor stormed out of a council meeting this week, claiming the council would go ahead with plans regardless of public opinion.
Disillusioned Conservative Richard Nelson stormed out of an engagement meeting about the proposed new Larkhall Leisure Centre in South Lanarkshire.
He said the meeting left him "deeply disappointed and frustrated" and claimed the plans being presented are not reflective of what the community "truly needs or deserves".
Nelson said: "It has become evident that genuine engagement with residents has been lacking.
“As a result of my concerns, I made the decision to leave the meeting. I cannot support the current plans, particularly the proposal to use Larkhall Academy as a substitute for a proper games hall. This approach would deprive our community of essential, dedicated sports facilities, especially during school holidays, exam periods, and other times when the academy’s facilities are unavailable.
“Larkhall Academy will not be able to be used during school hours and will not be able to be used until after 6pm. It is also really concerning that the contract to use the school for this purpose requires to go through a legal agreement with PPP. The cost of this is coming from the money for our new leisure centre—you really cannot make this up, and it is a disgrace.
He added: “Larkhall residents have repeatedly expressed their dissatisfaction with these plans.
“Messages from across our community highlight that the proposed leisure centre — featuring a small hall alongside a swimming pool and gym — is simply inadequate to meet the needs of our growing population. The removal of our current games hall adds insult to injury.
“The council’s reliance on a survey showing 87 per cent support from 703 respondents is misleading. A simple ‘Do you want a new leisure centre: Yes/No' question does not address the critical issue of whether the proposed design and facilities are fit for purpose or aligned with the community’s long-term needs.
He went on to claim the council’s statement about "next steps" and meetings with key stakeholders failed to provide reassurance that the voices of Larkhall residents would be genuinely heard.
Nelson concluded: "It appears that the council is determined to push forward with their plans, despite clear evidence of community dissatisfaction."
Although Nelson left the meeting early, discussions continued with other local councillors and community representatives, all of whom remained. A further engagement meeting is planned within the next month.
David Booth, executive director of community and enterprise resources, said: “We had a largely very constructive meeting with Larkhall community representatives on Tuesday, to discuss the progress being made to deliver an exciting new leisure centre for the town.
“This was part of our ongoing engagement with the local community as we strive to deliver the best possible facility within the £23.9 million envelope of funding we have been able to put together to replace the current leisure centre.
“Our public engagement exercise showed that 87 per cent continue to support our plans to deliver a new centre. More than three-quarters said they would be likely to use the new facility more than the existing one, with gym and swimming facilities top of the list of what participants wanted included.
“At the meeting there was further discussion around the fact that a games hall cannot be accommodated within the funding available. However, we confirmed that arrangements were being made to make the games hall and gyms at Larkhall Academy, next to the leisure centre, available for community use, outside of school operating hours."
Similar "dual campus" arrangements are in place in other parts of South Lanarkshire, and the new Larkhall Leisure Centre will be the most expensive facility the council has ever built, outwith their secondary schools programme.
