ANNOUNCEMENT: IN RESPONSE TO A PLEA FROM THE PEOPLE OF PORTSMOUTH = PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL (PCC)VOTED AND GAVE A 13 MONTH REPRIEVE TO THE PYRAMIDS CENTRE 9 MONTHS AGO. OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL WILL MAKE THE FINAL IRREVERSIBLE DECISION ON THE PYRAMIDS FUTURE. YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THE COUNCIL IS ENDORSING AN ICE SKATING RINK INSTEAD OF THE EXISTING SWIMMING POOL AND MUSIC VENUE; NOT IN ADDITION. THE FRIENDS OF THE PYRAMIDS ACTIVELY CAMPAIGN TO RETAIN THE EXISTING LEISURE FACILITIES AS A FUN SWIMMING POOL AND ENTERTAINMENTS VENUE. THIS IS A PLEA TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVEN'T ALREADY SIGNED THE PETITION TO DO SO AND EXPRESS YOUR WISHES IN FAVOUR OF RETAINING THIS FACILITY OR IT COULD BE LOST FOREVER. The Pyramids is a leisure complex in Southsea. This year is the 20th Anniversary since opening. Portsmouth City Council are proposing to close it and are in the process of draft planning for the potential of re-developing the site. It is the only Fun Pool for children in the local area as well as home to the Over 50's Aquafit club, Mother & Toddler, swimming classes, disabled sessions and many other events held in previous years. In addition to the swimming pool, The Pyramids Centre also currently houses the city's only mid-size (1150 capacity)music venue. Portsmouth-based promotions company,PVC, has staged a formidable line-up of acts since 1992 (including Radiohead, Muse, Lily Allen, Cold Play, Arctic Monkeys amongst many others) have performed to hundreds or thousands of people. It has greatly developed the cultural profile of Portsmouth and will leave a huge gap in the market, as well as depriving live music audiences. As a Leisure Complex it is the only pool in the area that caters for families and, more importantly, for children and adults with disabilities with gentle walk-in slope for access. Other pools do not have communal family changing rooms which is essential if you have a child with special needs. If both the Pyramids and Victoria pool close, as planned, that will leave only Eastney baths in the southern half of Portsea island . The closure will affect everyone in the local community. It is a place where people keep-fit, socialise and where children can express themselves in the Fun Pool without the constraints of other swimming pools. The government are concerned with children and obesity and society's carbon footprint. Portsmouth City Council are going against the fundamental policies that it should be following. We will be forced to drive out of the city and for the disadvantaged this will surely stop them going at all. Road conjestion in and out of the city is not good and it is known that when the new northern shopping quarter starts work the roads will be further impeeded. It is for Portsmouth City Council to address the management of the site and bring the facilities up-to-date. Society complains that children's behaviour has worsened then why take all the facilities away from them. It is proven that if you direct their energy then crime rate falls - proven locally by a sports project in Gosport presently run and organised by the police. Crime and nuisance in the area has dramatically fallen. Where will the children go to have FUN On the streets bored Please listen to the public and keep Southsea seafront alive - it should be a showcase for the City of Portsmouth, the jewel in the crown, to take pride and to advertise the wonderful facilities and open green common. Not close them down and make it a ghost town! PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION ASAP AS THERE IS LITTLE TIME TO VOICE OUR OPINIONS. Karen Winslade(Parent) & FRIENDS OF THE PYRAMIDS