Falkirk councillor says SNP will 'pay at election time' for closing community centre

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A councillor who left the SNP to stand as an Independent says the party will be punished at the ballot box for its role in closing Bo'ness Recreation Centre.

The leisure centre and swimming pool was closed by Falkirk Council last week despite a campaign by residents to save it. Councillors were told that it would cost £4 million just to repair the centre, which was costing around £1m to operate per year. Read more: Fury as recreation centre closes a day by Falkirk Council over fears for staff welfare Councillor Ann Ritchie said those who had been involved in the 'Save the Reccy' campaign would now turn their attention to making sure the promised replacement facilities will be "what the town needs".Falkirk Council has pledged to spend £3 million improving the leisure facilities at Bo'ness Academy but these will not be open until autumn 2026 at the earliest.Councillor Ritchie said closing the rec centre has "left a bad taste" for local residents and she fully expects the SNP and Conservatives - who voted for closure - to pay at the ballot box.She said: "The electorate in Bo'ness and Blackness will remember what they've done.

They are going to find out in the future at elections how the people feel because that's all I'm hearing is people saying 'wait until the next elections and they'll find out how we feel'."It was the SNP that brought this forward - they and the Tories have a lot to answer for - they both voted for closure."I don't know how many times we get told by the administration that they listen to residents - they've not done that in Bo'ness!"Bo'ness folk feel very let down by what's happened - it's just not fair!""When decisions are made people say in time people will forget - I don't think they will forget