CABLE OPENS NEW STATE OF THE ART HEALTHY LIVING CENTRE

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 19th May 2008

Vince Cable MP, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats visited Chesterfield last Friday to formally open the brand new state of the art Healthy Living Centre built to time and to budget in Staveley, one of the poorest areas of Chesterfield. Vince was visibly impressed by the high quality of the Centre which matches the best that the private sector offers in its extensive Gym, Climbing Wall, Pool, Children's play facility and the inclusion of two private sector businesses as well. He praised the Liberal Democrat run Council for acting so swiftly to replace the old Leisure Centre which had to be closed due to mining subsidence. The Council found all £8 Million out of its own resources where the previous Labour run council had failed for 7 years to get the money together to replace the former crumbling and dangerous building. Vince noted that not a penny had come from the Government or the Sport Lottery and that the over running costs of the London Olympics would mean constituencies around the country being starved of such funds for some years to come.

Paul Holmes MP commented:

"Earlier in the day Vince toured the historic town centre and market place and ultra modern Hi Tech industrial estates. All vital to the regeneration of an ex coalmining town and all invested in by the Council. Large scale private sector development is now being attracted into the once run down local economy too. The widespread use of geothermal heating and photovoltaic cells in all new Council developments impressed Vince too."