Maldon District’s Members of Parliament, Sir John Whittingdale OBE and Dame Priti Patel have written to the Leader of the Council to demand answers over changes being made to Blackwater Leisure Centre. The changes being made to facilities have meant longstanding groups operating from the leisure centre will need to move as the main hall is being repurposed for alternative uses. Groups, including the High Rollers Wheelchair Basketball Club, the Maldon Pioneers Association and the Badminton Club, as well as people who use the hall for five-a-side football, have been affected with just weeks to find alternative locations. Both Sir John and Dame Priti have been contacted by constituents concerned about the changes and impacted by them. In a statement the MPs said:
“Residents across the District who use the Blackwater Leisure Centre are deeply concerned about the changes that have been made, lack of communications from the Council and the disruption caused by needing to fund new facilities. The Council has failed to communicate effectively and there seems to be the lack of a clear plan to support all groups affected as early as possible. This situation is deeply disappointing and we will keep pressing the Council for answers and to do better for the District’s residents and those who use the leisure centre.”
See below for an image of the letter sent to the leader of MDC:

