South Wales Evening Post - 30 January 2008
Swansea Council leader Chris Holley is facing the threat of a libel action from a fellow councillor.
Clase councillor Ray Welsby is preparing to launch the move against Councillor Holley.
The action, which has seen a solicitor's letter sent to Councillor Holley, follows claims that Councillor Welsby allowed a council computer to be used by someone outside the authority - a claim he denied.
He called in solicitors Douglas Jones and Mercer, who wrote to Councillor Holley giving him 14 days in which to "apologise or face a libel action".
Councillor Welsby said yesterday: "I'm instructing for proceedings to be taken against him for libel.
"The 14 days are up."
Councillor Welsby claims Councillor Holley is attempting to prevent him standing at the next election in May and that the claims are "politically motivated".
He said councillors were "not allowed to speak openly because they are more or less threatened with being reported to the Ombudsman, because it doesn't suit the ruling group".
Councillor Welsby added: "I think because I speak out openly and truthfully that this has been used to get me suspended from the council."
But Councillor Holley said he was "deeply hurt" by the suggestion.
"That's definitely not the way that I operate.
"I'm absolutely fed up with it all," he said.
"I have no personal animosity against anybody."
He said yesterday: "I'm very disappointed that he feels this is necessary, but I will defend it most vigorously."
Councillor Holley also said that Councillor Welsby had "lost the plot" and that the issue of computer use was one that had to be addressed.
He added: "If we are told something by a member of staff, what are we going to do? Ignore it?"
At the end of the day, nobody accused him of anything, all they did was remind him that there is a policy and what that policy was."
He added: "I don't know why he is taking the action. What's the point of it?"
CITY RESIDENTS MAY FACE £1MTAX BURDEN
South Wales Evening Post - 29 January 2008
Swansea taxpayers could be subsidising the city's flagship leisure centre to the tune of £1million a year.
The figure has been released by Swansea Council just days after the Post revealed visitors to the pool will havestump up as much as £7 per visit to the centre's waterpark, known as The Edge.
Bosses at Bay Leisure, the not-for- profit company running the LC, will receive the cash from Swansea Council to help fund the running costs of the£32 million centre.
A Swansea Council spokesman said: "The council's subsidy to the LC is actually lower than the subsidy given to the former Swansea Leisure Centre and is a significant saving for council tax payers in Swansea.
"During the year that led up to the former leisure centre's closure in 2003, Swansea Council's budget for subsidy to the former leisure centre was £1.5 million.
"We're working with Bay Leisure to confirm the final annual subsidy figure to the LC which is estimated at approximately £1 million.
"This is an approximation because The LC is a new facility with no direct comparison."
The LC will open in just over a month, replacing the city's popular old centre, which closed in 2003.
It will include the indoor waterpark, complete with a network of pools, water rides, slides and surf machine, a multi- purpose sports and exhibition hall and Wales's biggest fitness arena.
And bosses hope the centre will become a popular destination for Swansea residents, as well as attracting tourists to the city.
The announcement that admission charges for The Edge will be as high as £7 has provoked an outcry from Swansea politicians and residents alike, although residents will be able to get a card entitling them to a £1 discount.
Many Post readers have contacted our website - www.thisisswansea.co.uk - to vent their fury.
Tim Coulson, from Swansea, said: "The cost of entry to The LC may well be comparable with the price of a cinema ticket, but I haven't already paid once to build the Vue cinema through my council tax."
However, city resident Sam Monk said: "I would rather pay £6 to use the new LC than the old one. Maybe if the council had not let it get in such a state in the first place then we would not be here now moaning."
On Saturday, more than 1,000 people signed up to a Labour group petition against the admission charges.
As well as giving residents a discount, LC bosses also announced youngsters will be able to use the facility for as little as £3 per visit.
The petition was launched as opposition parties hit out at the charge, with the leaders of Labour and Plaid in Swansea reacting angrily to the news.
Swansea taxpayers could be subsidising the city's flagship leisure centre to the tune of £1million a year.
The figure has been released by Swansea Council just days after the Post revealed visitors to the pool will havestump up as much as £7 per visit to the centre's waterpark, known as The Edge.
Bosses at Bay Leisure, the not-for- profit company running the LC, will receive the cash from Swansea Council to help fund the running costs of the£32 million centre.
A Swansea Council spokesman said: "The council's subsidy to the LC is actually lower than the subsidy given to the former Swansea Leisure Centre and is a significant saving for council tax payers in Swansea.
"During the year that led up to the former leisure centre's closure in 2003, Swansea Council's budget for subsidy to the former leisure centre was £1.5 million.
"We're working with Bay Leisure to confirm the final annual subsidy figure to the LC which is estimated at approximately £1 million.
"This is an approximation because The LC is a new facility with no direct comparison."
The LC will open in just over a month, replacing the city's popular old centre, which closed in 2003.
It will include the indoor waterpark, complete with a network of pools, water rides, slides and surf machine, a multi- purpose sports and exhibition hall and Wales's biggest fitness arena.
And bosses hope the centre will become a popular destination for Swansea residents, as well as attracting tourists to the city.
The announcement that admission charges for The Edge will be as high as £7 has provoked an outcry from Swansea politicians and residents alike, although residents will be able to get a card entitling them to a £1 discount.
Many Post readers have contacted our website - www.thisisswansea.co.uk - to vent their fury.
Tim Coulson, from Swansea, said: "The cost of entry to The LC may well be comparable with the price of a cinema ticket, but I haven't already paid once to build the Vue cinema through my council tax."
However, city resident Sam Monk said: "I would rather pay £6 to use the new LC than the old one. Maybe if the council had not let it get in such a state in the first place then we would not be here now moaning."
On Saturday, more than 1,000 people signed up to a Labour group petition against the admission charges.
As well as giving residents a discount, LC bosses also announced youngsters will be able to use the facility for as little as £3 per visit.
The petition was launched as opposition parties hit out at the charge, with the leaders of Labour and Plaid in Swansea reacting angrily to the news.
HUNDREDS PROTEST AT LC2'S £7 SWIM COST
South Wales Evening Post - 28 January 2008
Around 1,000 city centre shoppers have signed a petition against the planned £7-a-swim charges at Swansea's £32 million leisure centre. Paper quickly ran out as hundreds flocked to sign Swansea Labour group's new petition against what it calls "rip-off Swansea".
The petition was launched as opposition parties hit out at the decision to charge visitors to the LC £7 a swim.
The leaders of Labour and Plaid in Swansea have reacted angrily to the price for a session at The Edge - the name for the centre's water park.
Labour group leader David Phillips was in the centre on Saturday campaigning for a reduction in cost.
He said: "This is rip-off Swansea and people won't fall for this slight of hand.
"These charges are on top of the £1 million that the council intends to give the Leisure 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."
Remarking on the petition's early success, he added: "As the numbers who signed can testify, local people are clearly shocked and very angry.
"Council leisure centres should be about promoting exercise and leisure for the many, not the few."
LC chief executive Richard Proctor has described the prices as "exceptional value for money", and Swansea Council leader Chris Holley points out that the Swansea Residents' Card will allow local people to claim a £1 discount.
But Plaid leader Darren Price agreed the entry price was still too high.
He said: "My initial reaction to the new leisure centre's pricing policy is one of shock. It will certainly hit people's pockets hard, particularly those regular users of the centre.
"These charges will not, in my opinion, do much to promote physical activity within the city and county at a time when we're meant to be promoting healthy lifestyles.
"While Plaid welcomes the principle of the Swansea Residents' Card, I do not believe the £1 discount will encourage that many more people to attend."
But Councillor Holley has come out fighting.
He said: "The Labour group in the council is simply just jealous they weren't the ones behind, what will be, the best water park in the UK. Let's not forget - they were the ones who caused the leisure centre to close through neglect. We reopened it."
Mr Holley also insisted the cost of swimming there was not expensive.
"People should wait and see before they judge it. It's £6 for two hours' fun in a water park for adults who live in Swansea. That's comparable with the same price of seeing a film in Swansea on the weekend.
"It's £3 for young people and there will be discounts for the Passport To Leisure scheme."
Around 1,000 city centre shoppers have signed a petition against the planned £7-a-swim charges at Swansea's £32 million leisure centre. Paper quickly ran out as hundreds flocked to sign Swansea Labour group's new petition against what it calls "rip-off Swansea".
The petition was launched as opposition parties hit out at the decision to charge visitors to the LC £7 a swim.
The leaders of Labour and Plaid in Swansea have reacted angrily to the price for a session at The Edge - the name for the centre's water park.
Labour group leader David Phillips was in the centre on Saturday campaigning for a reduction in cost.
He said: "This is rip-off Swansea and people won't fall for this slight of hand.
"These charges are on top of the £1 million that the council intends to give the Leisure 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."
Remarking on the petition's early success, he added: "As the numbers who signed can testify, local people are clearly shocked and very angry.
"Council leisure centres should be about promoting exercise and leisure for the many, not the few."
LC chief executive Richard Proctor has described the prices as "exceptional value for money", and Swansea Council leader Chris Holley points out that the Swansea Residents' Card will allow local people to claim a £1 discount.
But Plaid leader Darren Price agreed the entry price was still too high.
He said: "My initial reaction to the new leisure centre's pricing policy is one of shock. It will certainly hit people's pockets hard, particularly those regular users of the centre.
"These charges will not, in my opinion, do much to promote physical activity within the city and county at a time when we're meant to be promoting healthy lifestyles.
"While Plaid welcomes the principle of the Swansea Residents' Card, I do not believe the £1 discount will encourage that many more people to attend."
But Councillor Holley has come out fighting.
He said: "The Labour group in the council is simply just jealous they weren't the ones behind, what will be, the best water park in the UK. Let's not forget - they were the ones who caused the leisure centre to close through neglect. We reopened it."
Mr Holley also insisted the cost of swimming there was not expensive.
"People should wait and see before they judge it. It's £6 for two hours' fun in a water park for adults who live in Swansea. That's comparable with the same price of seeing a film in Swansea on the weekend.
"It's £3 for young people and there will be discounts for the Passport To Leisure scheme."
SWIMMERS TO SPLASH OUT £7 FOR A DIP
South Wales Evening Post - 25 January 2008
The cost of making a splash at Swansea's new flagship leisure centre will be a whopping £7.
Bosses at the £32 million centre have confirmed the surprising cost for a swimming session at The LC, which will open in just over a month.
At peak times visitors will be restricted to a two-hour session in The Edge - the new name of the water area at the centre - although at quieter times visitors can swim for as long as they want.
However, city residents can claim a £1 discount by applying for a Swansea Residents Card.
Under-16s will be charged £4 and over-60s and Passport to Leisure holders will pay £3. A family ticket will also be available at £18.
The LC chief executive Richard Proctor said: "We believe the admission prices for The Edge offer exceptional value for money and compare favourably to other leisure activities available to residents."
Featuring an indoor water park complete with a network of pools, water rides, slides and surf machine, a multi-purpose sports and exhibition hall, and Wales's biggest fitness arena, the new centre is certain to be a popular destination for Swansea residents.
But will visitors be put off by the admission price?
Mr Proctor added: "Before setting our prices we did a lot of research into the cost of leisure and entertainment facilities in the area, and when you compare the prices announced today to those at other venues across the city, you realise what good value they are.
"The LC is an exciting new venue for the people of Swansea and we are 100 per cent committed to ensuring that all residents get the opportunity to enjoy the state-of-the-art facilities available."
Council leader Chris Holley welcomed the idea of reduced entry for Swansea residents.
He said: "The Swansea Residents Card is a brilliant and innovative way of recognising the special relationship between The LC and the people of the city which will allow residents access at a discounted rate."
The cost of making a splash at Swansea's new flagship leisure centre will be a whopping £7.
Bosses at the £32 million centre have confirmed the surprising cost for a swimming session at The LC, which will open in just over a month.
At peak times visitors will be restricted to a two-hour session in The Edge - the new name of the water area at the centre - although at quieter times visitors can swim for as long as they want.
However, city residents can claim a £1 discount by applying for a Swansea Residents Card.
Under-16s will be charged £4 and over-60s and Passport to Leisure holders will pay £3. A family ticket will also be available at £18.
The LC chief executive Richard Proctor said: "We believe the admission prices for The Edge offer exceptional value for money and compare favourably to other leisure activities available to residents."
Featuring an indoor water park complete with a network of pools, water rides, slides and surf machine, a multi-purpose sports and exhibition hall, and Wales's biggest fitness arena, the new centre is certain to be a popular destination for Swansea residents.
But will visitors be put off by the admission price?
Mr Proctor added: "Before setting our prices we did a lot of research into the cost of leisure and entertainment facilities in the area, and when you compare the prices announced today to those at other venues across the city, you realise what good value they are.
"The LC is an exciting new venue for the people of Swansea and we are 100 per cent committed to ensuring that all residents get the opportunity to enjoy the state-of-the-art facilities available."
Council leader Chris Holley welcomed the idea of reduced entry for Swansea residents.
He said: "The Swansea Residents Card is a brilliant and innovative way of recognising the special relationship between The LC and the people of the city which will allow residents access at a discounted rate."
