dingostew.com

Moves to warm a swimming pool with heat generated by an adjacent crematorium have sparked outrage.

Conservative-run Redditch Borough Council believes it would be an environmentally good use of energy and could save £14,000 a year at the Abbey Stadium pool.

The local authority maintains it would help reduce carbon emissions from energy which would otherwise be exhausted into the atmosphere.

But officials from the union Unison have called the plans "sick and an insult to local residents".

Roger McKenzie, Unison's West Midlands regional secretary, said: "It goes to show yet again that the Conservatives know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

"Unfortunately, local authorities are increasingly pursuing desperate policies in a reaction to the unprecedented spending cuts imposed from Whitehall."

He wants the council to apologise to people in the area for the "insulting and insensitive" proposals.

But the local authority wants to press ahead with consultations over the plan.

A series of briefings will be held later this week, with religious groups, funeral directors and members of the public.

eh.....freaky!!!
I'm sure its probably safe and all that but no way would I swim in that!!! lol

it would kind of put you off public swimming pools like who knows how they are being heated

Plans to warm a public swimming pool with heat generated by an adjacent crematorium have been given the green light by councillors.
Work to link the leisure centre and crematorium in the Worcestershire town of Redditch is due to begin in the summer.

Members of the borough council say diverting heat from waste gases from the crematorium to Abbey Leisure Centre will save £14,000 a year.

The scheme has previously been criticised for being insensitive with officials from the union Unison calling the plans "sick and an insult to local residents".

The Conservative council's leader Carole Gandy acknowledged there had been some concerns but said overall, the scheme had widespread support.

A series of briefings were held last month, with religious groups, funeral directors and members of the public.

Cllr Gandy said: "I am pleased to say that since news of the proposals broke and following consultation we undertook in Redditch, about 80 to 90% of the responses received by email, letter, phone calls and messages posted online, have been in favour of the idea.

"Many respondents have in fact praised the council for being so innovative and for being willing to discuss the idea openly."

She added the practice is quite common in parts of Europe, especially Sweden.

hah no way?? They actually went ahead with it??