Parents rally to save accessible hydro pool

Becky (pictured centre) uses the pool four days a week with her mother (right) and carer

A mum whose daughter has Down's syndrome has said it would be "awful" if her local hydro pool closed because it needs urgent repairs.

Compass Wellbeing, a community facility run by Taunton charity Compass Disability Services, is trying to raise £35,000 to repair and update its hydro pool, which is used by about 100 people each week.

Without the repairs, the accessible facility will have to close, which families say will leave them without a place to take their children with disabilities.

Sheila Evans, who has been coming to the pool with daughter Becky, 23, for years, said: "We need the facility for her and all the other people who use it."

"It's really worrying to not have it there, it would be awful," Ms Evans said.

She said her daughter, who also has cerebral palsy, loved the pool and had "no other option" to benefit from such a facility.

"She's limited to a wheelchair but she's very vocal and very physical," she said.

"Becky loves to move and she loves to make a lot of noise.

"What the pool does for her - it's so warm in there, she can relax. It allows her to spread out and spread her spine, where she's naturally curled."

Becky comes to the pool with her mother and carer most days of the week and sometimes attends the disco organised by the charity, where she socialises with other people.

It would be "awful" without the pool, said Ms Evans (pictured on the right)

Michelle Edwards, the centre's manager, said: "Our users often do not feel comfortable at other pools, whether that be because of the noise, accessibility, expected behaviours, or temperature difference in and out of the pool."

Compass Disability Services's appeal said the pool, which opened in 2017, was used by many disabled people, neurodiverse and older people.

Some use it for for physiotherapy to help to increase muscle strength, mobility, and for pain management, it said.

Gideon Amos, the Liberal Democrat MP for Taunton and Wellington, expressed his support for the fundraising efforts.

"Seeing the space and hearing about how booked up it is, clearly everything possible needs to be done to stop the pool closing," he said.

The fundraiser on Just Giving has so far raised about £12,850 of the £35,000 goal.