Parking abuses

The existing centre replaced the original swimming baths. The baths were built in an era when road traffic congestion wasn’t as it now is today and yellow lines were non-existent.

The council,in their wisdom, gave little thought to car parking provision when replacing the baths with the existing centre.

Presumably they worked on the assumption that the use of the decrepit council multi car park in the adjacent would suffice. Will the proposed refurbishment and modernisation of the centre have parking provision? I doubt it.

They obviously think that the Tesco car park is there to be used.

As has been mentioned in one or two reader letter contributions some pedestrian users of the leisure centre are using the vehicle ramp entry to and from the Tesco car park as a short cut and drivers are concerned for the safety of these people.

I seem to recall that the car park was some sort of joint enterprise between Tesco and the council and that the facility was there for shoppers in the town centre as well as for Tesco customers.

If this is so then thought should be given by the council to putting into place a safe means of access and exit for pedestrians into the car park because, as it is, people will continue to use the entrance ramp as a means of getting from A to B and someone may get hurt.

As to Tracy Wood’s assertion that the Crystal Leisure Centre and that of Halesowen are in the right place to benefit the local community and enable the residents to walk to them I have no idea. But with the vehicular traffic parked up around the centre – and yes on yellow lines – the car park facilities are being abused. It would have been better if they had re-sited it elsewhere with a provision for parking, as most people are mobile now.

As for it benefitting the local community I cannot recollect traders up in arms when faced with its imminent closure.

John B Waldron

Stourbridge