SWANSEA Labour has started a petition against what it calls “rip-off Swansea” after it was revealed it would cost a whopping £7 for admission to the new leisure centre.
 
Labour group leader David Phillips said the cost of entry would come as a huge shock to local people. The £7 admission charge comes on top of the £1million annual contribution that the council intends to contribute to the centre’s running costs. He said that people wouldn’t fall for the Liberal Democrats’ slight of hand and that the administration had been forced to sting people in the pocket because of its poor handling of the council’s budget.
 
Coun Phillips will meet people in the city centre today (Saturday) with local campaigners, drawing attention to the rip-off and campaigning for a reduction in cost.
 
DAVID PHILLIPS said:
 
“Sadly this is typical of the Liberal Democrat double-talk in Swansea. On the one hand they expect credit from local people for delivering a new leisure centre, but what they have conveniently forgotten to reveal is the fact that they plan on hitting residents in the pocket with these outrageous charges.
 
“Asking hardworking local people to pay these costs is out of order. This is rip-off Swansea and people won’t fall for this slight of hand.
 
“This comes on top of the ridiculous statement from the administration that it would not offer free swimming for older people and youngsters because it does not regard the new pool as a swimming pool.
 
“These charges are on top of the £1million that the council inendes to give the Lesiure Centre company every year. Swansea people are therefore being asked to pay twice. Once from their taxes or in service cuts and then again to get through the door. We are in this mess because this Lib-Dem led administration has managed the budget so poorly. It has got itself into financial trouble and expects local people to bail it out.
 
“Local people will be shocked by this revelation. Council leisure centres should be about promoting exercise and leisure for the many, not the few. Labour will oppose this every step of the way.”