London Pools Campaign: pools at risk

New talks to save swimming baths - Blackpool Today

webteam — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 20:45:11 GMT

"CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save St Annes pool have been given a glimmer of hope following crunch talks on the future of swimming in Fylde.

The future of the facility is back in the balance after discussions held behind closed doors at Lytham's Lowther Pavilion.

Fylde Council has agreed to work with the YMCA, which already has sports facilities in Lytham and St Annes, to ensure the pool remains open until its July 31 closing date."

(Via New talks to save swimming baths - Blackpool Today: .)

Loughton Swimmers to lose pool place

webteam — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 07:40:40 GMT

"
http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/new..._pool_time.php

The Loughton Swimmers club which has served the community for over 40 years has been informed by SLM (Sport and Leisure Management) that their Monday evening slot will no longer be available to them, from March onwards.

The club has 185 members and has always kept its prices low, but the Chairman of the club feels that this may be why they have been asked to leave.

The manager of Loughton Leisure Centre claims that the needs of the community are not being met if clubs are operating four days a week there, but this is strongly disputed by club members who say that parents will be dismayed to find that the club is no longer in operation.
"

(Via SwimClub.co.uk Forums Loughton Swimmers to lose pool place: .)

Cheam Baths Closed By Brittas (from Your Local Guardian)

webteam — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 02:14:23 GMT

"Councillor Tope has gone from being the Cardinal Wolsey of the Liberal Democrats to the Gordon Brittas of leisure." Councillor John Kennedy

"Swimmers at Cheam Leisure Centre have been told to get out the pool by the 'Gordon Brittas of leisure' Councillor Graham Tope.

At a council meeting on Monday Coun Tope failed to give his cast iron guarantee that the leisure centre, known as Cheam Baths, would not be closed.

'We have known for over 20 years that Cheam is old leisure centre, we have known that for years. We need to have a sensible agreement about what's going to be happening,' he said.

Coun Tope explained that although half a million pounds had been earmarked to be spent on the centre in the next financial year, the cost of upkeeping the pre-war leisure centre may not be sustainable."

(Via Cheam Baths Closed By Brittas (from Your Local Guardian): .)

Legal battle to stop Derby City Council demolishing a swimming pool

webteam — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 03:13:46 GMT

"Protesters fighting a legal battle to stop Derby City Council demolishing a swimming pool told a judge they wanted enough compensation to cover the cost of repairs.

As a five-day hearing at Birmingham High Court drew to a close yesterday, Gayton Community Association told Judge David Oliver QC that their priority was to keep Gayton pool in Littleover open.

Alex Dumbill, for the group, said: "The only reason the association brought this case was that they saw the bulldozers on the horizon and had no other option.

"A derisory award of damages would be little more than insulting to the members of the community association. In my view, the best approach to damages would be the cost of the repairs."

Earlier in the week, the council estimated repairs at £800,000. However, the community association said the figure was more like £115,000.

At the end of the hearing, Christopher Harrington, who launched legal action against the council with fellow trustee Alan Willis, said the association was not interested in being compensated. He said: "The pool would be an immeasurable loss to all our members.

"All along we have not been seeking financial damages, just to see the pool open again, at least until the end of our lease in 2013.""

(Via Protesters fighting a legal battle to stop Derby City Council demolishing a swimming pool told a judge they wanted enough compensation to cover the cost of repairs.As a five-day hearing...: .)

Hadleigh pool cannot be saved

webteam — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 09:08:12 GMT

"End of the road for Hadleigh Pool? Engineering experts Scott, White and Hookins have concluded that the structure of the Hadleigh pool tank is in such a bad shape that they would not recommend Babergh Council spending any significant money on it. The Council might replace it with another community and leisure centre but not a pool [LINK].

This article states that if the Hadleigh pool closes then people from the town would have to use pools in Ipswich/Colchester/Sudbury or Stowmarket, all of which are about 12 miles away.
(I have to add that they will find little joy in Ipswich, where the facilities are worse in both quantity and quality than they were 20 years ago. Broomhill Pool has been allowed to lie derelict for over five years, Fore St Baths is only open to the public at lunchtimes (Mon-Fri) and Crown Pools has been earmarked for demolition once a replacement is built.)"

(Via poolingresources : Message: Evening Star - Hadleigh pool cannot be saved: .)

Burnham-On-Sea swimming pool is 'set to close by April 2008'

webteam — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 07:21:54 GMT

"Burnham-On-Sea's swimming pool could be set to permanently close next year under controversial proposals unveiled by the cash-strapped district council on Wednesday (December 5th).

Sedgemoor District Council's Executive Committee announced on Wednesday it may permanently shut the Berrow Road pool by April 2008 because it is losing £250,000 a year running the facility.

Council spokeswoman Claire Faun told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "The proposal is to place the site on the open market for sale with all capital receipts being generated from the sale being ring fence and placed in a common good fund for expenditure solely for the betterment of the residents of Burnham on Sea and Highbridge."

(Via Burnham-On-Sea swimming pool is 'set to close by April 2008': .)

Reprieve for Peers Sports Centre: Oxford Times

webteam — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:43:21 GMT

Oxford Mail

"The Peers Sports Centre has won a reprieve at least until March 31st 2008. Campaigners have welcomed the decision and say this will give them a chance to fight"

(Via poolingresources at Yahoo! Groups Reprieve for Peers Sports Centre: Oxford Times: .)

Dorset Town's swimming pool could shut

webteam — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 18:56:18 GMT

"A swimming pool in a rural Dorset town could close because the council can no longer afford to run it. [LINK]

The splash pool at the Stourview Centre in Sturminster Newton is set to shut next year unless Dorset County Council can find somebody else to run it. [LINK]

The council needs to save £600,000 on its day service provision and blames the closure on the pool's falling user numbers and rising maintenance costs. [LINK]"

(Via BBC NEWS | England | Dorset | Town's swimming pool could shut: .)

Moseley Road Baths on national endangered buildings list

webteam — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 17:16:52 GMT

"Moseley Road Baths (aka Balsall Heath Baths), Birmingham, Warwickshire The last working Grade II*-listed Edwardian swimming baths we have, the future of this outstanding building should be assured. But with estimated essential repair costs of £30 million and a falling number of regular swimmers, fears are growing that the baths, built by William Hale & Son and opened in 1907, may not be open for long. Already one of the pools has closed.
Knowing how difficult it is to find uses for swimming baths that fall out of use, we are urging Birmingham Council to do all they can to safeguard the future of the pool and keep offering local people the opportunity to experience what one regular swimmer describes as a 'holy and endangered activity'. "

(Via poolingresources at Yahoo! Groups Moseley Road Baths on national endangered buildings list: .)

Grove Pool, Belfast: future to be decided

webteam — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 18:36:46 GMT

Ah just 30 clubs then...

"The future of Belfast's Grove Swimming Centre could be decided by Belfast City Council on Monday evening.

The city council will weigh up whether to close the Grove's doors next April or keep the north Belfast facility open in a limited capacity.

Swim Ulster want the latter option until the opening of Northern Ireland's first 50-metre pool planned for 2010.

The council had made the decision to close the pool but then rowed back in order to further consider the issue.

Thirty predominantly Belfast clubs make full use of the Grove for 40 hours every week."

(Via BBC SPORT | Other Sport... | Swimming | Grove Pool future to be decided: .)

Purley Pool gets some more time

webteam — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 08:18:37 GMT

Well there has been a change of heart over at Croydon Council They are now going to keep Purley Pool open for 3 years subject to running costs.

The campaign is now changing focus and looking towards new objectives. The campaign has secured over 1000 signatures and more coming through on the web site all of the time we are told.

Bid to save Hertfordshire pool from cuts is sunk

webteam — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 20:32:02 GMT

"A LIFEBELT for Sawbridgeworth’s Leventhorpe pool was snatched away this week.
Residents and councillors were left flailing on Tuesday when East Herts District Council’s executive rejected a call from policy scrutiny committee members for two months’ treading water while a further review was carried out. Instead, they agreed to press ahead with cost-saving cuts by pulling the plug on casual weekend swimming at the pool, which is shared with the secondary school.
As a result, from September 1, Leventhorpe will be the only one of the district’s five pools to shut on Sundays, according to outraged Independent district councillor for Sawbridgeworth Nigel Clark."

(Via HEN News : Observer News : Bid to save pool from cuts is sunk: .)

Gayton Pool Campaigners continue fight.

webteam — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 18:17:15 GMT

To a council with a hammer everything looks like a nail. Is this yet another example of a council that has done nothing to plan for the future telling everyone to 'be sensible' and give up a much-needed facility with no replacement prepared?

"A Former head teacher who fought to save the swimming pool at Gayton Community Junior School in the 1980s has offered words of encouragement to those battling the current closure plans.

Solicitors acting on behalf of Gayton Community Association yesterday applied for an injunction to stop the closure.

Chris Harrington, trustee and secretary of Gayton Community Association, said: "It is such a valuable facility for the community, we don't want to see it close. We're still taking legal action to stop the council closing the pool."

Demonstrators gathered outside Derby's Council House last night, but the issue of Gayton pool could not be discussed by the full council because court proceedings had been issued.

And a motion by Councillor Ruth Skelton calling for the cabinet to note the concern of residents about the demolition and to transfer the facility to a community group could not be tabled."

(Via poolingresources at Yahoo! Groups FROM ... Gayton Pool Campaigners continue fight.: .)

also ....

"GYM CLUB HELPS IN FIGHT TO SAVE THREATENED SCHOOL POOL"
A Gym club which helped to resurrect a sports centre is helping a group which wants to save a Derby school's swimming pool. Derby Gymnastics Club took over Lancaster Sports Centre...

(Via GYM CLUB HELPS IN FIGHT TO SAVE THREATENED SCHOOL POOL...: .)

Is a Campaign to stop the Council closing Purley Pool and Leisure Centre growing?

webteam — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 23:37:28 GMT

Parkwood Leisure who also manage Ladywell in Lewisham are proud to be "Helping Deliver A Memorable 2012!"

We are getting a lot of comment from residents that they do not want the Council to close Purley Pool and leisure Centre...

They strongly feel that it should remain where it is. It is well used and sited in the correct place.

It serves Sanderstead, Selsdon, Coulsdon, Kenley, Purley and South Croydon. In total about 12000 households. It is available to about 50000 people.

It also is used by 11 Schools as well as local swimming clubs. We also understand that it makes a profit.

Why should the Council want to close such a good facility that is well used?

UK pools 'need major investment'

webteam — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 16:45:05 GMT

"On the face of it, this should be a golden era for Britain's public swimming pools. The government is constantly urging us to do more exercise.

And ministers have pledged to improve sporting facilities in the run up to the London Olympics in 2012."

But despite that, hundreds of local pools are increasingly shabby and some are threatened with closure.

The Amateur Swimming Association says £2bn of extra investment is needed to keep public pools afloat.

(Via BBC NEWS | UK | UK pools 'need major investment': .)

Oxfordshire | Accessible pool disabled by school closure

webteam — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 00:12:36 GMT

"A swimming facility where ~~disabled~~ swimmers and their coaches have trained for more than 10 years is set to close.

Physiotherapists and teachers from all over the world take part in training at the Ormerod School in Oxfordshire."

(Via BBC NEWS | England | Oxfordshire | Disabled swimmers' pool to close: .)

(note: London Pools Campaign has amended the headline for this article and added a strikethrough to the text, it's a swimmer thing)

City University seeks permission to decommission pool

webteam — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 22:01:00 GMT

Proposal:

Listed Building Consent application in connection wtih internal refurbishment and alterations, replacement of roof structure to internal courtyard, adaptation of former swimming pool for educational use

College Building City University, 280, St John Street, Islington, London, EC1V 4PB

A resident has opposed the application:

"There is no evidence that the Department for Media, Culture & Sport has been consulted, either directly or through the Government Office for London. Sport Minister Richard Caborn recently stated that the government is “…taking swimming pool provision in London very seriously…”, as reported in Time Out magazine’s Save Our Pools campaign. The minister also stated that “…Local authorities will invest £1 billion over the next three years in sports services, with a large amount of this spent in London…”. The government’s intent means that a joint funding arrangement with Islington Council to enable the pool’s survival must be carefully explored. Local residents will expect the Council to demonstrate this, in it’s decision notice on the application.

There is no evidence that Sport England have been consulted, or that their recommendations have been given due consideration. This is crucial, given that following ministerial direction, Sport England are currently developing a swimming strategy for London based on an analysis of current facilities, and the impact of the 2012 Olympics.

There is no evidence that the London Pools Campaign have been consulted. As the London-wide campaign group active in this area, their view of the strategic importance (or otherwise) of this pool is important.

The Design Report (Part 2; page 4) states “…There is no shortage of access to public swimming pools in the area…”. No statistical information for the take up of services in Ironmonger Row or Golden Lane is provided, or summary of the charges applied, or summary of any restrictions for public access that may be applied by such other facilities. Given the high residential population on low incomes in the EC1 area, such information is needed to support the applicant’s assertion."

"Swimming Pool Plans Sink To Low Depths" at Fulwell Cross

webteam — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 18:03:17 GMT

"CRITICS claim a £1.8 million leisure centre refurbishment scheme could leave many elderly people in Redbridge with no access to swimming facilities."

(Via Swimming Pool Plans Sink To Low Depths (from East London and West Essex Guardian Series): .)

Comic asked to help save swimming pool

pool@... — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 21:02:00 GMT

The Croydon Advertiser reports:

LITTLE Britain star David Walliams is being asked to back the Save Our Sportscentre (SOS) group fighting to save the Merland Rise swimming pool where he was once a lifeguard.

Proud mother Kath spoke of her son's achievement for Sports Relief. She said: "It's amazing. Not only is he one of only 50 people in the world to have swum the 21 miles in 10 and a half hours, he raised £1 million for Sports Relief.

As part of a review of leisure facilities across the borough, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council was looking into providing a new shared sports facility to be built at Beacon School, and the closure of the Banstead Sports Centre.

A spokesman for SOS said: "It would appear there's not an awful lot wrong with the Merland Rise pool. We would think to keep it - especially a pool three metres deep of that quality - would make a more sense than a new one. The Merland Rise pool was certainly good enough for David Walliams and we are all so proud of him"

Old Ladywell Pool Fire

webteam — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 18:45:45 GMT

A wonderful old building, a derelict pool on a large site starting the slippery slope to demolition? Derelict pools like this, Poplar, Haggerston can be lost with the community losing architectural gems as well as much-loved facilities - every year that goes by increases the cost of their refurbishment. Arson is such an effective spur to redevelopment and brownfield site creation.

" from London Fire Brigade :
SUNDAY 19 MARCH

Ladywell – fire in disused building
Eight fire engines and around forty firefighters were called to a blaze at disused swimming baths on Ladywell Road, Lewisham this afternoon. The fire destroyed approximately a third of the building.

The Brigade was called at 1601 and the fire was under control by 18:32. Fire crews from Lewisham, Greenwich, Lee Green, Forest Hill and Downham fire stations attended the incident. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

picture from derelictlondon.com"

(Via The Ragged School Blog Old Ladywell Pool Fire: .)

Colleges Conversion Plan Angers Resident (from News Shopper)

webteam — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 23:24:28 GMT

"AN ANGRY resident is opposing a nearby school's application to convert a swimming pool into sixth form facilities.

Ray Gittins, of Hawkwood Lane, Chislehurst, is hoping to drum up support against the application, made by Coopers Technology College, also in Hawkwood Lane.

The college has recently applied for a certificate of lawfulness for the conversion, which could see the pool make way for a new sixth form centre."

(Via Colleges Conversion Plan Angers Resident (from News Shopper): .)

You’re ‘aving a larf

webteam — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 22:16:48 GMT

The Council’s position on Seaton pool has now descended even further into farce. The Evening Herald reported on the 16-2-06 that external consultants were being brought in to try and make sense of the mess the Council has created with respect to the provision of swimming lessons. See the link below for the full story. If someone wrote this as the script for a farce you would not believe it. However, it is real and it is your money being wasted. Some wags are already saying that the cost of the consultants is £160,000 (the cost of keeping Seaton Pool open for a year). Don’t laugh; cry, because it is probably true.
Evening Herald 16-2-06
Jack-in-the-box consultants report on swimming lessons in Plymouth'
Baroness Fookes letter'

(Via Save Seaton Pool You’re ‘aving a larf: .)

Fears for special needs swim club as pool goes up for sale

Max Calo — Thu, 11 Aug 2005 23:39:54 GMT

"A POPULAR swimming club is faced with closure when the pool it uses is sold next year.

The Friday Night Special Needs Swimming Club uses the pool at the University of East London (UEL), Longbridge Road, Barking. But the site is up for sale.

The group, which meets every week during term time, caters for youngsters with a wide variety of special needs and has four swimming coaches, two paramedics and five lifeguards on duty at every session.

It provides one-to-one swimming coaching for 35 youngsters, ranging from five to 18, and has a waiting list of 35.

Clare Davis, 27, secretary of the parents support group, said: "We help children who can't swim in public pools - one of our youngsters has epilepsy and needs one to one coaching, which we can provide. "Another has severe asthma and can't risk swimming in public pools in case of an asthma attack."

Anyone who maybe able to help the group in its search for a new base can contact Miss Davis on 07715 112183."

(Via Barking and Dagenham - Recorder 24)

Save Broomhill Pool

Max Calo — Thu, 04 Aug 2005 21:29:34 GMT

"SAVE BROOMHILL POOL is the web-site of the The Broomhill Pool Trust, a group of like minded persons wanting to save Broomhill Pool from the bulldozer and for the use of this generation and the next generation of young persons.

Our aim is to explore and work with the Council and all interested parties to preserve Broomhill as an open air pool for future generations."

(Via Save Broomhill Pool: .)

St Neots - Another Pool Bites the Dust

webteam — Tue, 12 Apr 2005 15:35:52 GMT

Further to earlier message 415, I cycled past this pool a couple of weeks ago and found that the site has been demolished and the pool filled in. All that is left, rather bizarely, is the metal perimeter fencing.
The pool, which was full olympic length, was last open to the public for the 2003 season.
St Neots still has an indoor pool at Ernulf Sports Centre.
(Via lidos at Yahoo! Groups.)

Opening of the Brand New Save A Lido Today Campaign Website

webteam — Thu, 07 Apr 2005 02:13:11 GMT

"Chair of the Save A Lido Today campaign Linda Watkins sends a special message to warmly welcome you to our new website."

(Via SALT News Feed.)

Another pool closing ...

webteam — Mon, 10 Jan 2005 19:21:48 GMT

Despite efforts over the last nine months Barts and the London NHS trust are closing their swimming pool in Stepney Way, Whitechapel today.

This 25m pool was donated by private funds in 1935 by a family; for the benefit of staff. The pool has been used by staff, medical students, holds swim classes, hosts disabled swim sessions and traithlon clubs. Despite much protestation the trust is closing it and not replacing it in the multi-million pound re-development of this site.

We are told that the effect on staff morale seems to count nothing; nor do the obvious health benefit implications.

If an NHS trust in East london has this attitude when we are bidding for the Olympics, it leaves many people in the trust very despondent.

Goodhew: ‘Keep open air pool open’

webteam — Fri, 08 Oct 2004 21:00:16 GMT

SWIMMING star Duncan Goodhew has dived into the row over the threatened Hoddesdon Open Air Pool describing any pool closure as “scandalous”.

Broxbourne Council’s community services committee this week decided that the threatened pool – which saw its total usage figure slump from 19,183 in the 2003 season to 13,250 in the 2004 season – could stay open for the 2005 season.

At the meeting, held on Tuesday (September 28), council leader Cllr Liz Clayton (Con, Goffs Oak) pledged: “The council is determined to keep this pool going as long as we possibly can.”

[from Herts and Essex Newspapers]

U-turn on lido listing defended

webteam — Tue, 28 Sep 2004 17:13:13 GMT

"English Heritage has defended its U-turn on a decision to grant a run-down outdoor swimming pool listed status.

The body which advises the government has now backed the move to grant the King's Meadow lido in Reading, Berkshire, Grade II listed status.

After Thursday's announcement, council chiefs said English Heritage was "irresponsible" for changing its mind on the Edwardian pool's future."

(Via BBC News.)

News from Kings Meadow, Reading

webteam — Sat, 28 Aug 2004 00:05:34 GMT

Not really a London pool but certainly one we watch with interest. Here's a clipping from the Oliver Merrington moderated Yahoo Lido group posting of July 28. This is one well-worth applying for membership to for news and information about British Lidos. Click here to join.

Reading East MP Jane Griffiths has accused councillors of deliberately neglecting King's Meadow swimming baths so they can be sold off. Presenting a petition to save the baths to Parliament, Ms Griffiths told her fellow MPs she had concerns about the state the old Edwardian baths had been allowed to get into by the council. She has also written to Trish Haines, Reading Borough Council chief executive, demanding an explanation on why nothing has been done to prevent vandalism on the building.
The graffiti-covered building faces demolition if planning chiefs approve plans to turn a chunk of King's Meadow and Caversham Lock Island into a hotel and leisure complex.
But campaigners, who are fighting to save the baths and return them to their former glory, have gathered a 2,000-strong petition to support their cause.

For pictures of Kings Meadow click HERE.

NEW POOLS FOR ISLINGTON & SOUTHWARK?

webteam — Sat, 28 Aug 2004 00:05:59 GMT

Islington Councillor Laura Willoughby wrote on the London Pools Campaign website "The good news is that despite Hornsey Road Baths being closed since the late eighties and now being developed for community and business use the planning gain for the site is to provide a new swimming pool somewhere in the vicinity. This will be an additional pool in Islington (which has 4 which is good for the smallest borough in London) and I hope we can start discussing plans with interested parties soon on what, where and how - I am very ambitious for getting a high quality, regionally used pool - and one that is built well and stays open."

A private housing scheme next to Waterloo Bridge on the South Bank is also earmarked to help finance a 25m public swimming pool as part of the extended Coin Street development.

UXBRIDGE LIDO - COUNCIL PLANS REFURBISHMENT ALONGSIDE INDOOR POOL

webteam — Mon, 06 Sep 2004 23:50:39 GMT

London Pools Campaign wrote to Hillingdon Council to ask about the future of Uxbridge Lido. Cllr Solveig Stone, Cabinet Member fo Education Youth and Leisure wrote in response that the council intends to bring the lido back into full use as "a fully integrated part of the new sports and leisure complex that will entail the restoration of the exiting grandstand, cascades, entrance guilding, lido pool and surrounds". This would be alongside a "state of the art" leisure facility including an indoor 25m 8 lane pool. They are currently preparing the planning application.

CLISSOLD LEISURE CENTRE - ARCHITECT STARTS HIS OWN INVESTIGATION

webteam — Mon, 06 Sep 2004 23:51:35 GMT

Clissold Leisure Centre in Stoke Newington, cost £32 million to build - instead of the initial plan of £7.5 million, and was open for just 20 months. It was closed for health and safety reasons due to major structural faults in November 2003. The Architects Journal reports that Clissold architect Stephen Hodder has employed his own structural engineers and cost consultants in a move that will compete directly with the Hackney Council's investigation. Hodder told the AJ that he has been left out in the cold by the council regarding the building's defects and is determined to find the real reason for its closure - 'We are going to have a look in the building and find out what has really gone wrong - at the moment we are being told absolutely nothing by the council. How can our architectural detailing have caused the building to be closed for so long? We do not even know for a fact that the problems are as a result of the construction'. Most recently Mr Hodder has told the AJ that there is no reason for the centre to be closed. More info on http://www.clissoldleisure.com

Islington Councillor speaks up!

webteam — Mon, 19 Jul 2004 18:18:45 GMT

In a very welcome development Islington Councillor Laura Willoughby has used the comment feature on this website to answer our request for information on Hornsey Road Baths. It's a pity more councillors, officers and local authorities don't feel able to be public about their intentions and activities, even if it is just a case of 'jam tomorrow'.

"The good news is that despite Hornsey Road Baths being closed since the late eighties and now being developed for community and buisness use the planning gain for the site is to provide a new swimming pool somewhere in the vicinity. This will be an additional pool in Islington (which has 4 which is good for the smallest borough in London)and I hope we can start discussing plans with interested parties soon on what, where and how - I ma very ambitious for getting a high quality, regionally used pool - and one that is built well and stays open."

Cllr Laura Willoughby [laura.willoughby@islington.gov.uk]

Vandals threaten lido's future

webteam — Wed, 21 Jul 2004 22:32:21 GMT

Volunteers fear more damage could shut the Brynamman lido for good and that vandals may force the closure of one of the last lidos in Wales.

Doors and windows at the outdoor pool at Brynamman have been smashed and fires started in the outbuildings.

Volunteers who run the complex, built in the 1920s by miners donating a penny a week from their wages, say more damage could close it for good.

Parents fear plug pulled on baths

webteam — Tue, 27 Jul 2004 06:59:09 GMT

Many modern parents complain they face a constant battle to drag their children away from the Playstation or television screen and keep them active.

But for one village in Lancashire that task could be about to get even harder if its local swimming club is closed.

Brinscall, near Chorley, which has fewer than 3,000 residents, boasts one of the oldest public swimming pools in the country, built in 1911.

Withnell Swimming Club has trained there for 58 years, but is facing closure because it cannot find new qualified coaches.

[By David Green BBC News Lancashire] Saturday 01 May 2004

Open-air pool saved from closure

webteam — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 17:26:31 GMT

A historic outdoor swimming pool in Cornwall has been saved from closure.

The 70-year-old salt water pool at Summerleaze Beach in Bude had been earmarked for closure following safety concerns.

But on Monday night, councillors voted to keep the pool open during the summer holidays and agreed to look into measures for the long term.
[BBC NEWS Cornwall]

Palace's £5.5m lottery jackpot

pool@... — Fri, 13 Feb 2004 20:08:34 GMT

Sport England has agreed to give Crystal Palace a £5.5m injection of national lottery funding over the next two years to keep the National Sports Centre open and avoid damaging London's 2012 Olympic bid.

Bromley Council was to resume ownership of the south London complex when Sport England's 35-year lease ended last March but has continually warned that it cannot afford to maintain it or pay for its programme of modernisation.