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Anger over EU plans to build multi-million pound gym for MEPS

Defy the economic downturn by doing what? Send those idiots over Ill tie them behind our horses, they want to work out fine, we will have them sweating in no time. On second thought, no need to send over they might run away and a car will do just as good. Lina http://www.telegrap h.co.uk/news/ worldnews/ europe/eu/ 4698966/Anger- over-EU-plans- to-build- multi-million- pound-gym- for-MEPS. html Anger over EU plans to build multi-million pound gym for MEPS MEPS are planning to defy the economic downturn by splashing out £8.1 million on a state of the art pool for aqua-gymnastics and "chill out rooms". By Bruno Waterfield in Brussels Last Updated: 4:35PM GMT 19 Feb 2009 Proposals to create a new "fitness studio" for MEPs have caused anger as the European Parliament gets ready for elections in June and as voters are forced to tighten their belts in the worst recession for more than 60 years. The plans, that are projected to total almost £12,000 for each MEP, have been resurrected after the parliament's budget committee previously rejected the idea of a swimming pool. Richard Ashworth, a Conservative MEP and a member of the budget committee, suggested that his colleagues should "dream on" if they thought taxpayers should pay out for a new pool. "This is not appropriate at the present time and after we said a positive 'No' last year," he said. The cost of a swimming pool has been estimated at 5.6m euros (£5m) and refurbishment of an existing gym at 2.3m euros. The bill for external consultants and a health and safety assessment has been totalled at 1.3m euros. Richard Corbett, a Labour MEP for Yorkshire and Humber, hoped that the parliament's authorities will, again, throw out the proposals. "A gym is a good idea, a new pool is a stupid idea, especially during a recession. It is totally unnecessary and unjustified, " he said. Senior MEPs discussed plans for the new fitness facilities on Wednesday night after they were tabled by Gerard Onesta, a French Green and vice president of the parliament. Mr Onesta insisted that the new gym would have "nothing to do with luxury" and that the facilities would save money by cutting staff absenteeism by up to 30 per cent. "This is not about a sports centre just for deputies but facilities for all the workers, assistants and interns in the institution, " he said. "It is not a swimming pool. It is an aqua gym."