SWANSEA residents will have to fork out a whopping £40 a year in taxes to pay for the new leisure centre.

The charge will apply whether or not they use the centre. This comes on top of the revelations that the council will charge £7 for entry, scrap free swimming for older people and young people and only open the centre from 4pm.

Labour reacted angrily to the news and demanded an apology from the Liberal Democrat administration. It accused the Lib Dems of trying to sneak the costs through.

But Labour leader David Phillips said that the pool tax should be published and listed in every ratepayer’s council tax statement.

DAVID PHILLIPS said:

“This pool tax is Swansea’s poll tax. Not only will users of the new centre have to fork out £7 for entry but they will also have to pay an extra £40 a year on their council tax to keep the centre going.

“Even people unable or unwilling to pay the entrance fee will be forced to pay this pool tax.

“Local people will be furious that the Liberal Democrats have tried to sneak through this pool tax with no consultation with the public whatsoever. They are creating a rip-off Swansea that will do our city great harm.

“Local people deserve full disclosure on this issue. The full cost of the pool tax should be published and listed on every single citizen’s council tax statement so that they know exactly how much this enterprise is costing them. That is the least we should expect from this shambolic Liberal democrat administration.

“Local people demand a full and public apology for this mess. And I will not stop campaigning until they receive one.”