The future of Woolston Neighbourhood Hub remains uncertain after Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols published a letter she sent to the chief executive of Warrington Borough Council, Sarah Smith, following talks with the community group fighting to save the facility.
MP raises unanswered questions after community meeting
Ms Nichols says she recently met representatives of the Woolston Neighbourhood Community Group, who outlined a series of concerns about the hub’s closure. In her letter to the council chief executive she highlighted a delay in publishing the hub’s costings and warned of the longer-term physical and mental health consequences residents are already feeling.
She told followers on Facebook that, while waiting for the result of the public consultation and the council’s next steps, she has been taking action to press for answers and keep options open to preserve the site as a community asset.
"I completely understand that many of you are still incredibly worried about the future of the Hub, and I appreciate the strength of feeling. I imagine many people are currently struggling to find alternative places to exercise and swim or are just not doing anything at all now. I can assure you that I will continue to do all that I can to keep our hub open, fight alongside the community, and ensure that all options are kept on the table to secure its future."
Options being pursued to save the facility
In the letter and her social post Ms Nichols set out the avenues she is exploring on behalf of campaigners. Those include pressing the issue with regional leaders and pursuing potential community-led or third-party options to keep the site in public use.
- Raising the matter with Andy Burnham if she is selected to ask a question at Prime Minister’s Questions.
- Exploring a sale or transfer to local education and leisure providers, who might operate the hub as a community facility.
- Demanding transparency on the council’s costings and the outcome of the public consultation.
Those campaigning say the hub provides space for exercise, swimming and other community activity — services they fear will be lost if the site is not retained. Ms Nichols voiced concern about people who are now unable to access alternatives and the risk that some will stop exercising entirely.
What the community says and what happens next
The Woolston Neighbourhood Community Group has been active in pressing the council to reconsider or find a local solution. The precise financial figures or timetable for any sale or transfer have not been published by the council, and the MP’s letter asks the chief executive to address those omissions.
The coming weeks are likely to be decisive. The council’s formal consultation process remains the official route for any change, but Ms Nichols’ involvement signals continued political pressure and local scrutiny over transparency and the safeguarding of community provision.
| Action | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Ask question at PMQs (via Andy Burnham) | Elevate the issue to regional/national attention |
| Seek purchase by education/leisure providers | Keep the site open as a community asset |
For residents of Woolston the key concerns are practical and immediate: where children and adults will swim and exercise if the hub remains shut, how any loss of facilities will affect health in the neighbourhood, and whether local people will be kept informed of timescales and financial plans.
Ms Nichols’ letter to Sarah Smith asks the council to respond to those points and to ensure that all reasonable options are examined before any final decision is taken. The community group has said it will continue campaigning while watching for the council’s reply.
Locally, this has become a test of how councils and MPs work with communities to preserve everyday services that matter most to residents — from swimming lanes to exercise classes — and how transparent they are when a facility’s future is at stake.
