"Champagne bottles were cracked open in Burnham on Tuesday evening (April 8th) as delighted councillors led the celebrations to mark the unveiling of new bosses to run the town's swimming pool."

(Via Celebrations as Burnham swimming pool is saved from closure: .)

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| Dorset Pools | 13 April 2008; 10:19:24 PM |# | | Discuss |

"Pool hopes dashed by council. Pool will shut on May 31st unless a new owner can be found. Some video of the meeting before I got in to trouble for taking it and was told I will be removed from the meeting, oops"

Why? Why? why? why?

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| Dorset Pools | 18 January 2008; 2:02:46 PM |# | | Discuss |

Now there's a surprise!

"Burnham-On-Sea.com has obtained shocking evidence that proves 34 homes have been earmarked for the land currently occupied by Burnham's swimming pool.

Campaigners battling to save the pool say these images - which have been leaked to Burnham-On-Sea.com by an anonymous source - "completely destroy" the argument from the district council that it is shutting the pool purely because it is making a £250,000 a year loss."

(Via Exclusive: Outrage over plans for 34 homes on swimming pool site: .)

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| Dorset Pools | 15 January 2008; 10:40:40 AM |# | | Discuss |

Well if they are sure... we all so often hear the effects of a too-permeable perimeter at leisure centres. As people have already paid for the leisure centre and also pay the wages of the people that open and run it we are in favour of free swimming for all - but stringent controls are needed for security and not merely for the collection of revenue.

"SWIMMERS could be slipping through the net at a Dorchester leisure centre for a dip without paying.

But the loss of income would not merit costly investment in equipment to catch them, councillors decided.

Rosie Darkin, finance manager at West Dorset District Council, told members of its audit and governance committee that staff spot check receipts after people have gone through the reception area at Thomas Hardye Leisure Centre.

The fitness suite is closely monitored and checked by staff."

(Via Cheeky Swimmers Avoid Splashing Out (from Thisisdorset): .)

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| Dorset Pools | 15 December 2007; 12:12:08 PM |# | | Discuss |

" With 60 per cent of its hours of opening available to the wider community, Sherborne has at long last a sports facility for which it has yearned for years - a public swimming pool in all but name.

Now, completed on time and on budget, the stunning 25 metre, six-lane pool established at the Oxley Sports Centre, just off Bradford Road, not only gives Sherborne School for Girls a fabulous new facility but, in partnership with Sherborne Sports and Leisure Limited, one much sought after by the town and district.

Long-time enthusiasts suggest that Sherborne first tried to finance and establish a public pool in 1926, but failed. For years, local swimmers had to go elsewhere although eventually there was a local facility - the opportunity to use Sherborne School's open-air pool, especially during the summer vacation when responsibility for its operation was accepted by the then Sherborne Urban Council and, subsequently, the town council. Many of the town's children learned to swim there during the summer months, encouraged by Sherborne Rotary Club's annual junior gala at which they were rewarded for their achievements."

(Via Latest News Pool is a landmark in history of town: .)

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| Dorset Pools | 11 December 2007; 10:13:01 AM |# | | Discuss |