MARTIN WELCOMES PUMP ROOM VICTORY

1.24.50pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 6th Jun 2007

Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood has welcomed Cheltenham Borough Council's abandonment of its controversial plans to allow private developers to turn Pittville Pump Room into a hotel or casino. "The Pump Room has required a degree of public subsidy for most of its history. But isn't that right for probably our finest public building? The Pump Room has provided a focus for public entertainment and leisure for the best part of two hundred years and the Council's rethink means that it will continue to do so. I welcome their assurance that it won't now be turned into a private venue like a hotel but will remain for community use. Everyone from the Horticultural Society to Cheltenham Motor Club to the Music Society should be celebrating tonight."

Martin handed in a petition to council leaders in January, strongly opposing plans which would have allowed the Pump Room to fall into private use. It had been signed by many Pittville residents, members of the Music Society and other local clubs and societies and others who simply love the Pump Room.

"This is a good decision and a victory for people power" said Martin. "I'd like to thank all those who signed the petition to save the Pump Room for public use and especially Professor Jim Harrison, Chairman of both the Music Society and Festival Society, who was a key player in that campaign."