Sauna Suit Effects

When a handful of councilors decided to close the underused and expensive sauna sweat suit in Nantwich more than a year ago they could never have imagined the response it would generate. Furious at being ignored before the decision was taken and incensed that councilors reached their decision in secret, a small band of sauna users have simply refused to let the issue go away.

And they have been so successful at keeping the matter in the public eye that leaders on Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council have been repeatedly forced to publicly defend their practices and the fitness suite project that has now been delayed. But for the campaigners and for councilors this is not enough.

The issue is no longer whether the sauna should or should not be closed - it almost definitely will be because the council says it will not reverse its decision under any circumstances. But campaigners still want to know why council officers felt there was no need to consult users before the decision was taken and why councilors were not given more information last year. Labor councilor Bill McGinnis risked the wrath of his ruling group and tackled the issue at a meeting of the policy committee recently.

But his request for more detailed information about the income from both Nantwich and Crewe saunas was sidelined. Instead head of leisure Byron Davies repeated the council's aim of providing more leisure facilities which will be more widely used. Conservative leader Ray Lacey also says her Party may not have supported replacing the sauna with a gym if they had had more information recently.

She informed Nantwich sauna is making a loss and opposed to any facility losing money.

But as far as public consultation goes it is very difficult to strike the right balance. Do you go out to public consultation on every single decision - because if so, nothing would ever get done? And while open government is important we have to bear in mind the impact on staff. "If the decision to close the sauna had been taken in public we would have had staff on the telephone within half an hour demanding to know what was going on and whether their jobs were safe. However, while the campaign to save the sauna looks doomed it has nevertheless jeopardized the future fitness suite which was scheduled to replace it.

Sales director David Hannah told that they are concerned over the considerable amount of influence members of the public appear to be exerting on the decision. They have to take account of the impact they may have on our investment. They need to be assured that both members and officers remain fully supportive.

Chief executive Alan Wenham told councilors that he will no longer threaten the future of the gym by arguing with campaigners. But he also added that if Power Sport International delays work for much longer, the council will look for new partner. As for the future campaigners are still hopeful there will be an independent inquiry into the whole affair.