Pavilions set to shed staff as fun pool closes
UP TO 20 people could lose their jobs at the Pavilions after the Life Centre opens in Central Park in March.
The fun pool at the Pavilions will close when the new £46.5million leisure centre opens.
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Plymouth Pavilions
But bosses at the Pavilions said yesterday that they would continue to have a full programme of events in the Arena.
Plymouth City Council has asked Theatre Royal (Plymouth) Ltd, which operates the Pavilions, to keep the ice rink open until at least September this year.
But with the pool closing, fewer staff will be needed in areas such as catering, cleaning, box office and administration, Pavilions bosses said.
"Voluntary redundancies are being invited in the first instance, and it is believed that reduction in workforce is likely to be under 20," the company said in a statement.
Gavin Marshall, programming and marketing director at the Pavilions, said their diary was still open for this year and they were already taking bookings for 2015.
The council has always said that the ice rink and fun pool would close once replacements were provided.
Eventually part of the Pavilions building will be demolished to make way for a new boulevard linking Millbay and the City Centre.
Cllr Glenn Jordan, the city's Cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport, said that the conservative group was committed to retaining an ice rink in the city if it held on to power in May.
The council is negotiating with bidders who want to take over the Pavilions, but Mr Jordan said he could not give a timescale.
A notice in the Official Journal of the European Union last year invited expressions of interest in buying the freehold of the Pavilions site and providing new or re-modelled ice skating and arena facilities in the city.
A council spokesman said: "We are evaluating two shortlisted bids to buy the freehold or take a lease of the Plymouth Pavilions site and provide new or remodelled ice skating and arena facilities.
"We cannot tell you who the bidders are as this is commercially sensitive information. We expect to make an announcement in or around May."
The Pavilions said yesterday that the ice rink would continue to operate its full range of sessions for public and private skating, 14.5 hours a day, seven days a week.
A new public ice rink entrance, vending and waiting area will be opened near the existing main entrance, with on-site parking.
The existing main entrance, along with the Western Approach bridge link, will be open whenever there is an event in the Arena.
Mr Marshall said: "In conjunction with union and staff representatives, we have worked hard to keep the proposed reduction to staffing levels to a minimum.
"While decisions like these are never easy, I am incredibly proud of how our teams have responded to these challenges, which have been coming for some time.
"We will continue to consult with staff, and any individuals potentially affected, to ensure our plan is as robust as possible."
The Life Centre will have a fun pool alongside the Olympic-size swimming pool and one of the country's best diving pools. The smaller fun pool will have flumes, a "beach entry" and a bubble pool. The 50-metre main pool can be divided into three for different uses.
Cllr Jordan said: "We are also committed to providing improved ice skating and arena facilities for the city and are evaluating bids to deliver this.
"These proposals will enable the Pavilions to maintain ice skating and an arena in the interim, while also making significant savings."
24 Comments
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by MagicalOne
Thursday, February 02 2012, 6:54PM
“Would make a great location for a skate park, so desperately needed in the city.”
by TheMercenary
Thursday, February 02 2012, 6:46PM
“Stop whinging. When I was a kid and before the pool in Central Park was built, we only had open air pools. Unless that is, you were lucky enough to have a Royal Naval connection and could go to the barracks for a swim.”
by peturd
Thursday, February 02 2012, 1:06PM
“i wrote this yesterday but they deleted it !!! "why couldn't they of been allowed to work in the new life centre !!!! every time i drive past the life centre i wonder how they actually got planning permission to put such a ugly building like that there, is there a nice side to it !!!”
by Jon_33
Thursday, February 02 2012, 9:47AM
“by stephen76
...As to walking the 2 miles each way, with 2 young children in this weather or worse, unrealistic. Catching a bus, further increases the cost. Building my own swimming pool, I would love to, let me off my council tax and I would be able to afford to."
Why is it unrealistic to walk 2 miles? My kids have been walking further than that for years, and it hasn't killed them yet.”
by PL1Plym
Thursday, February 02 2012, 6:56AM
“Why are people in this city obsessed with swimming pools? Why does everyone think they should have one on their doorstep. They are incredibly expensive to run. The Pavilions pool is a "Fun" pool NOT a swimming pool in the sense you can have a serious swim for fitness. There will be a NEW MODERN replacement for it in the new Life Centre!
The "Grand Plan" for Millbay which involves loosing most of the Pavilions (if it ever happens) will be a far better for the city as a whole rather than keeping a poorly planed ice rink. Again due to lack of typical Plymouth planning during its conception the silly more cost effective "kidney" shaped rink was favoured instead of a more traditional size one where proper ice hockey for example could have been played.
With no disrespect to anyone on a very tight budget but I would have though that if money is that tight then taking the family for a swim is not up there on a list of high priorities? Maybe cutting back on booze, burgers and fags is or putting your energy into getting a better paid job (Apparently people who collect the tolls on the Tamar Bridge are very well paid!) would be better?
My only problem with the Life Centre is that as I don't live in Plymouth I won't be able to use it.”
by mcspredder
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 9:19PM
“"the ice rink and fun pool would close once replacements were provided."
But the life centre is not a replacement - it's way across town, so that reason is out of the equation.”
by suemma
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 9:13PM
“I just think it's ridiculous that a city as large as Plymouth will only have one swimming pool. I think Plympton is ok at the moment but the people of Plymstock must feel aggrieved. When my daughter learned to swim, the only option I had at the time was Seaton and Central Park. The problems started when Seaton closed and everyone had to use one facility. I know that there have been major changes to accomodate this at Milehouse but is there room to accomodate 250,000+ ( Yes, I have counted tourists and offset it against the population)? Can it accomodate, serious swimmers, swimming lessons fun pool and everything else, without time restrictions? Sorry, I very much doubt it. Maybe I should invest in a wet suit and just go into the sea for free. For a city on the coast, we should ensure people who want it, have the opportunity to be able to learn. A big thank you to Peter, who had the patience of a saint teaching Emma "Dolly daydream" at Seaton and Central Park, she will never be a Sharron Davies or a Tom Daly but she is a confident swimmer now!”
by Winstonsmith0
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 8:42PM
“Viv must be so proud of her long term project. Big, shiny and dominating the city landscape - just like the lady herself.
I feel sure she would have sought to ensure that any staff losing jobs from Pavilions would automatically qualify for re-employment at the 'life centre', She would most certainly have been advised that jobs would be lost at Pavilions.
and just think . . . 20 photo opportunities for each and every re-employed potential voter.
Ah, the true face of business
p.s. 20 jobs going at the incinerator soon - as long as you can speak German”
by Lewdownlee
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 5:10PM
“To add Stephen, I genuinely hope a solution could be found to encourage a loyal swimmer as yourself to use the new pool facilities.”
by Lewdownlee
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 5:10PM
“Stephen, you are raising valid points thats for sure, I would imagine though people who dont use the council run swimming pools in plymouth would feel unhappy at xouncil tax money going to subsidise swims.
It is a very difficult subject to get a definative right or wrong answer as there will always be people, like yuorself, who will feel agreived at the decisions made by the council.
Unfortunately in times of austerity prices are rising everywhere and cuts are being made creating a paradox of rising costs and less facilities and jobs. Perhaps reflecting on your arguement and other points made by people the life centre should take on the season ticket prices for the loyal users of the Central Park pool whilst charging the standard price for the new users who didnt use the facilities before.
As I said though, it is impossible to find the correct solution without upsetting someone...”