Schoolgirl's gripe over pool closure takes the biscuit
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Your support makes all the difference.Councillors who thought the closure of a public swimming pool would be a fairly mundane affair with just a few token objections did not bargain on the temerity of a disgruntled schoolgirl.
Jennifer Carling, aged 14, was so angry that Redcar and Cleveland Council were closing the pool that she met them face- to-face in a policy and resources committee meeting.
She spotted her chance of revenge after noting that while the prospects of getting a replacement pool for Redcar were slim, the councillors were tucking into free chocolate biscuits during meetings.
Miss Carling argued that since the public's pool had been closed for economic reasons, the least the elected representatives could do was to sacrifice their snacks.
Her motion was backed by 14 votes to seven and will be ratified by the full council on 1 May, saving pounds 2,700 in biscuit costs.
"Closing the pool has caused problems for a lot of people and when I saw councillors eating the biscuits I thought it wasn't fair," said Miss Carling.
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