Leisure Centre News
Following a recent inspection, Active4Today closed the fitness suite. The top floor closure on December 14th was needed for improvements to Fire Safety. The Town Council Trustees have ensured the appropriate membership fees were suspended while the fitness suite was closed. It re-opened on 25th January.
SWIMMING CHANGES
Recent changes to the swimming timetable have upset many users. In response, Active4Today has agreed to review the alterations in February.
LEISURE CENTRE PLANS
As Leisure Centre use returns to pre-COVID levels, Liberal Democrat Councillors are wondering what happened to the expansion of the Fitness Suite proposed by the District Council in 2019. Doubled in size, the new fitness suite would have extra free weights as well as cardio-vascular and fixed weight machines. New resistance machines would be suitable for GP referral patients, childrens' and instructor led classes. The existing fitness suite could be used for more club bookings, including fixed cycling classes, yoga and pilates.
The Town Council fully supported the plan, agreeing to donate land for the extension. With increasing student numbers at Brackenhurst and more housing in Southwell, Liberal Democrats will be campaigning for further investment in the Centre.
Local Election Results May 2023
A spectacular set of elections both nationally and locally here in Newark and Sherwood!
Overall Lib Dem gains were 405 nationally, which posed a problem for Sky News, whose swingometer apparently was not able to contemplate a set of gains of this magnitude. We exceeded 'Exceeded Expectations'!
Our local gains at the district level saw the addition of our third District Councillor with the victory of Keith Melton in Trent Ward. We also kept 2 of 3 councillors for Southwell, now Karen Roberts and Peter Harris. We were encouraged to see the increase in our share of votes in other seats where we were able to field candidtes. Congratulations to everyone.
We had a very good performance in Southwell Town Council, gaining 10 of the 14 seats for which there were candidates, with 6 of these won in elections and 4 being uncontested. Two Conservatives, one Labour candidate and one Independent were also successful. One place on the council remains to be appointed to.
The Conservatives had a terrible set of district and parish elections, losing about half of their district councillors and many PCs. The final DC result was Conservative 14, Labour 11, Independents 11 (8 for Independents for Newark and 3 for other Independents) and Lib Dems 3. Discussions will take place for some time on the composition of the new administration, which is unlikely to include Conservatives for the first time since 2007.
On behalf of the executive, we are extremely grateful to everyone who stood as candidates, as well as everyone who performed the various roles which were necessary for the campaigns. We are a small party and many of you worked very hard.
We are very grateful for their past work to councillors who have stood down at this election, including Peter Scorer and Stuart Thompstone. Malcolm Brock has stood down from the District, though continues to serve on Southwell TC.
We welcome new members to the party, who were motivated by this campaign. This phenomenon was particularly marked in Trent Ward. Upton support has to be singled out, evidenced for anyone who drove through, by the huge number of LD stakeboards and posters.
Philip Barron
Chair, Newark Liberal Democrats
7 May 2023