West Lancashire: Labor council faces revolt in swimming pool row

Council leader Yvonne Gagen and Carl Coughlan, who looks after leisure services, were singled out in a “no confidence” motion by the Our West Lancashire (OWL) group, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The OWL motion was narrowly defeated by 23 votes to 21.

Former Labor councilors Neil Furey, Paul Hogan and Kerry Lloyd all confirmed they had left Labor to become independents over the proposed swimming pool closures and had supported the no confidence motion.

Furey said that, although he had been a Labor councilor for 16 years, he “could not support such plans”.

He added: “This would be the ultimate betrayal of Ormskirk and Skelmersdale.

“People are angry, including teaching staff and governors. There must be alternatives.”

Lloyd said she had resigned as Labor whip “in response to an ill-considered approach to consultation and public engagement on the financial decisions the council must make” – including closing swimming pools.

Hogan said closing the pools was the main reason they all left the party, but each of them had additional and different reasons that influenced their decisions.