Swimming club taking legal advice after Halifax leisure centre plan is given the go-ahead

Halifax Synchronised Swimming Club is exploring whether or not it has grounds of apply for a judicial review investigating Calderdale Council’s decision to green light development of a new leisure centre on the site of the existing one at North Bridge, Halifax.

The full Calderdale Council approved the move when it met this month.

Last year the council closed the existing Halifax Swimming Pool at Skircoat Road, which dates to the 1960s, as being uneconomic to repair.

But the club, which are national champions at some age levels and are ranked third in the country, say the depth of a new pool which will be a key part of the new multi-million pound leisure centre, is, at around two metres, not deep enough to allow its members to train safely.

They say a result is they will be forced out of town or close – temporarily they have been training at Todmorden Swimming Pool – also in Calderdale – but this does not meet competition standard.

The club is now taking legal advice from specialist lawyers Irwin Mitchell to see whether they can apply to the High Court for a judicial review investigating the council’s decision.

Katy Cowans, an expert public law and human rights lawyer at Irwin Mitchell who is representing Halifax Synchronised Swimming Club, said planning legislation allows for any member of the public to challenge a decision made by a local authority by requesting a judicial review through the courts.

“Understandably the club are worried what this decision means for the future of many young people in the area.

“They are particularly concerned that they were not consulted on the plans and that previous council commitments to provide facilities allowing key sports such as swimming, diving and synchronised swimming to take place, appear not to have been met.

“We’ve now raised these concerns with the local authority.

“In the meantime we urge the council to do the right thing and work with the club to ensure that a pool that benefits all sporting clubs and the community is built so young people can continue to flourish in their sport and win medals,” she said.

The council’s Cabinet member for Regeneration and Strategy, Coun Jane Scullion (Lab, Luddenden Foot) said full council giving the green light to the project was a major step and the authority is confident correct procedures have been followed.

“The go-ahead from Full Council to approve the funding to progress the development of the new Halifax leisure centre and swimming pool is a major milestone in our hard work to bring top-class, combined facilities to Calderdale’s diverse communities.

“This is a key project for the whole borough, which will not only support the health and wellbeing of a wider range of local people and visitors, but will also boost our economic recovery and work to tackle the climate emergency.

“Halifax Synchronised Swimming Club’s potential application for a judicial review is a matter for the Club, however we are confident that all the appropriate processes and procedures have been undertaken,” she said.

Cabinet member for Public Services and Communities, Coun Jenny Lynn (Lab, Park) said the new leisure centre would bring “fantastic” facilities, including a 25 metre pool, spinning studio, adventure climb, sauna cafe, a Centre for Independent Living and energy-efficient technologies.

“The new leisure centre will help more people to be active, support people of all ages and abilities, and cut carbon emissions,” she said.

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