Thank you to everyone who has signed the petition to save The Kingfisher

Over 1590 people from Kingston have signed the petition so far, and huge numbers of people from across London, England and beyond have joined our fight to save a precious public swimming pool and leisure centre from untimely demolition

Please keep spreading the word

Let's each try and ask at least one more person to sign the petition and tell the Council that it's time they listened to the people they are meant to represent

In more shock news, I have discovered that - not only did Kingston Council pay £301,000 in 2020 - 2021 to Places Leisure, the company contracted to maintain and manage The Kingfisher, WHILE THE KINGFISHER WAS SHUT but they have also agreed to pay the company undisclosed amounts of money to wriggle out of the management and maintenance contract for The Kingfisher that extends to 2026, and about which the council do not seem most happy. See picture below for details

To get an idea of the kind of amounts of money at stake, the contract for all four leisure centres across the Borough (of which only The Kingfisher and New Malden have swimming pools which are expensive to manage and maintain) is worth a total of £64 million over a 20 year period

In addition, Kingston Council has offered Places Leisure financial compensation for the closure of leisure failities across the Borough in both 2019-20 and 2020-21

All these costs come out of the council tax that we, Kingston residents, pay for the vital sports and leisure facilities that are being withheld from us

Here are the relevant excerpts from the Corporate and Resource Committee report in July 2021:

"In July 2020, the Response and Recovery Committee agreed a package of financial support and contractual relief to assist Places Leisure to reopen and operate the three leisure facilities that are managed through the contract" and

"Given the considerable disruption to the sector due to periods of further national and local lockdown, the trajectory for recovery now extends into 21/22. The Council proposes to offer support to Places Leisure on the same terms and conditions as were agreed for the initial support package, with additional monthly reviews from July 2021. PL has requested continuation of the payment in advance arrangements
to support its cashflow position whilst income levels are reduced. Mindful of mitigating against its cash exposure risk, the Council agreed terms upon which a proportion of the monthly sum is paid in advance. It has also proposed terms upon which the Council’s liability will be subject to a cap and at which point the Council will withdraw support."

How much have Kingston residents been made to pay to support Kingston council's plans to demolish The Kingfisher Leisure Centre without our consent?

One thing is certain: the cost in social, health, equalities, environmental and financial terms is sky high

Keep sharing the petition now - I will present it to Full Council on 12 October 2021