26th May 2022 

The Planning meeting will go ahead this evening, which seeks to approve plans to build a leisure and community facility on the site of the Kingfisher.

This is despite New Malden Village Councillors not being elected, due to the postponement of the ward election. The Kingfisher decision impacts the local area as much as the rest of the borough, as it adds additional pressure to the capacity of the Malden Centre, Kingston’s only remaining community leisure facility.

The Lib Dems have stated the date of completion will be 2024. This is at best short sighted, and at worst attempting to mislead the public regarding what is realistically possible.

Meanwhile, Kingston is left with one pool to serve the community, during a cost-of-living crisis where many can’t afford costly gyms memberships, and at a time where life enhancing health and well-being activities are needed more than ever.

The Lib Dems have careered head on into terrible decision, when after exploring the possibility of a new pool, a refurb would have been to most pragmatic decision, for the community and the local budget.