In today’s Kidderminster Shuttle the local Tories on Kidderminster Town council appear to be complaining that St George’s paddling pool looks set to close as a result of Wyre Forest District Council decision.

The Tories have short memories, or at least hope you have.

The Tories want you to forget that it was them, thanks to Tory Govt cuts, and when they were in charge of the District Council, that offloaded it to the Town Council. It was then them on the Town Council who proposed a motion to CLOSE it. Labour Councillor Sarah Rook (photo) fought against that and got the District Council to agree some maintenance on it so it could remain open.

It’s therefore now a bit rich the Tories are using it as a political football to garnish support – when it was their actions that lead to this sorry situation in the first place. No low appears too low to try and hoodwink local people to make them think they care. The Tories don’t care, it’s all just an electoral game to them.

Labour District and Town Councillor Sarah Rook said “The conservative group on Kidderminster Town Council  moved a motion to have this pool closed. They are now using it’s a political  weapon.  The people of Broadwaters/Horsefair deserve this resource and even though the Conservatives threw the community a scrap of a lifeline to keep it open (this year only) in which we thought they had found a conscience, they were just planning on using it in a cynical vote seeking marketing campaign.”

Sarah continued “It was a conservative localism project arising from their austerity cuts that got it removed from the District council budget, and it was the Conservative group on the Town Council who then wanted the Town council to stop funding it.  You have to wonder whether they have any genuine concern for much loved local amenities like this that they think it’s ok to use it as a prop in their political games. They must think we’re all stupid. I’m furious.”