Cllr Lewis Rose used a press release championing Derbyshire Dales' summer leisure programme to fire a verbal volley back at those that say Matlock is a poor relation in Derbyshire when it comes to leisure facilities.

Cllr Rose said: "Too often the district council, despite an amazing amount of good work carried out by its innovative and enthusiastic leisure staff, is used as an easy target by a minority of individuals intent on squeezing out as much negativity as possible from what is a buoyant and developing leisure landscape.

"We will not be distracted and it is our intention to continue to do our utmost to support the youth of the Derbyshire Dales. The council has had a comprehensive leisure strategy since 1993 that develops and runs swimming pools, sports centres, parks and recreation grounds, as well as sports development.

"The council is adept at attracting lottery funds and working with partners and in the past 15 years we have built three substantial leisure facilities and another is on the way. Only four years ago we rebuilt Matlock's parks to include a brilliant skate park facility.

"While the temporary closure of the main pool at Matlock Lido is disappointing and frustrating, we will bounce back, not least with a new central leisure facility that will be a significant development not just for the Derbyshire Dales, but for the region as a whole."

The council says a total of 4,003,076 visits from 2001 to the end of March this year equates to well over half a million visits a year over the last seven years.

There were almost 600 visits to the district council's summer holiday sports programme, with centres in each of the Dales' four major towns.
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