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CWR,4 mins

Coventry's closed pool costs taxpayers £2.3m

Available for over a year

Figures obtained by the Âé¶¹Éç show £2,291,225 has been spent on Coventry Sports and Leisure Centre by Coventry City Council since it was shut in February 2020. The council recently confirmed it intended to demolish the swimming pool section of the site "in the best interests of the city and the best interests of the taxpayers", after marketing efforts failed to attract a new occupier. The latest costs are shown to be dominated by around £300,000 a year spent on security and utilities, as well as £68,000 paid to Coventry Business Improvement District and a total of £355,000 on buildings insurance. Among the smaller charges were £172 to clean the indoor bowls carpet a year after it closed, £1,909 to remove furniture and another £1,909 for minor building works. Despite the costs, the council insists it will still meet savings targets of £13m over 45 years as a result of closing down the site.

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