'Continued Confusion Surrounding Splashes Rebuild' - Say Medway Liberal Democrats

Medway Liberal Democrats continue to be disappointed by the lack of communication surrounding the project to rebuild Splashes leisure centre in Rainham.

From the outset the project has been surrounded by confusion, with what was originally going to be a simple refurb, the sudden details of the unsafe nature of the building and now required the building to be demolished and rebuilt. During all of this none of the local councillors have regularly updated people of its progress and has sown a huge amount of doubt within the local residents.

In a latest twist one of our campaigners, Stuart Bourne, asked the council at the last full council meeting on the 7th October what was the current status and deadlines for the project. The response was vague and suggested that a design team may be appointed in November 2021. Yet an investigation by Future Chatham has discovered that a contracted has been awarded to Aflsp (London) for a fee of £1,539,995 on the 21st October, just two weeks after answering our question.

The investigation also discovered an indicative project timeline was attached to the bid, something the council has refused to inform the public on. The timeline indicates that the build won't now start for another 12months, which a final opening not due until December 2023. It is shocking that the people of Rainham will now have to wait even longer to have a local leisure facility to exercise.

Stuart Bourne, Medway Liberal Democrat campaigner says 'The communication surrounding the Splashes project has been terrible from the start. It has caused doubt and concern in so many residents in Rainham and Twydall. The council and local councillors have a duty to keep the public regularly informed with such a big and important local project. We should not have to investigate and get our information from third parties on when it'll be opened.'

Medway Liberal Democrats are once again calling on Medway Council to form a local residents forum to ensure local people are kept up to speed, and to hear their views on the plans. Without this level of communication Rainham residents are going to spend the next 2 years in the dark, panicking over whether we will ever get a pool.

ENDS