DUDLEY Council’s decision to reduce the pool opening times at Stourbridge’s Crystal Leisure Centre has come under fire from the shadow cabinet member for health.

Conservative Councillor Natalie Neale has criticised Dudley’s Labour-led authority for reducing the pools opening hours, saying the changes are “contrary to the council’s policy”.

However, Cllr Khurshid Ahmed, cabinet member responsible for leisure, claims the changes to opening hours will improve the environment and experience for customers, as it will allow time for staff to clean the facilities.

No changes have been made to the weekday leisure pool opening hours on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays (noon until 8pm) or Fridays (noon until 9pm), but it will now only open between noon and 3pm and 5pm to 8pm on Tuesdays – a loss of two hours.

Additional two hour lane swimming time will now be available on Tuesdays between 3pm and 5pm in the centre’s 25 metre pool.

Both pools will now close at 5pm on Saturdays, a reduction in one hour each from the previous opening times.

Cllr Neale said the council should be looking at working in partnership with the private sector to see if the borough’s leisure centres can be operated in “a more efficient manner”.

She added: “On numerous occasions I have raised in the council chamber the need for fitness hubs in local parks, so the opportunity for a 'healthy Dudley Borough' is of paramount importance.

“If we are serious about promoting a healthy lifestyle then the leisure pool changes are in contrary to the council’s policy.

“With more people using gyms and leisure activities than ever before it is an incompetent administration that looks to cut opening hours.”

Responding to the comments, Cllr Ahmed said: “Dudley Council provides a huge range of indoor and outdoor leisure facilities for people to use to keep fit and stay healthy, and we want to ensure they can do so in safe environments.

“Previously the Crystal Leisure Centre’s 25m pool closed 3pm to 4pm on Tuesdays during term-time for staff training.

“However this has now been moved to the leisure pool, which is a busier pool and contains more activities, such as the rapids, slides and waves, to ensure training can be tailored to this environment.

“An extra hour of training can also be delivered at this time, when there is less demand for the service.

“Both pools close to the public at 5pm, instead of 6pm on Saturdays due to the growing demand for exclusive-use pool parties and allows for cleaning to take place before the booked party arrives.

“If no party is booked, the time is used to deep clean the changing rooms, improving the environment and experience for customers.”

The leisure pool’s Sunday opening hours will continue as 8am until 6pm.