Caution over talk of new competition-standard pool

A new 25m pool is included in plans to redevelop Shrewsbury Sports Village

After decades of lobbying, Shropshire Amateur Swimming Association could be on the verge of getting a new competition-standard pool, but its secretary has said: "We're not holding our breaths."

An application has been drawn up for improvements to Shrewsbury Sports Village, which would include a 25m, eight-lane pool with seating for 250 spectators and space for 250 competitors.

Mandy Garrott said her association had been involved in drawing up the plans and had had numerous conversations with councillors for years.

But she said: "We get so far down the line and then there's an election and it gets abandoned and they start again with consultations."

Ms Garrott said there had been talk of a new competition pool for Shropshire for as long as 30 years.

Speaking about the latest proposals, she said: "We've got further than we've ever got before on all the discussions" and that created some optimism.

But she added: "Until there is a hole in the ground we're not confident at all.

"All it takes is an election and then things start again."

Mandy Garrott said the county was closer than ever to getting the new pool

The county's amateur swimming association represents 11 clubs and about 1,500 members.

Without a competition-standard pool in the county, major events have had to be held in Wolverhampton, meaning greater expense and longer days for those taking part.

Only club championships and schools events have been held in Shropshire.

Shrewsbury's existing pool at the Quarry is a non-standard length, and doesn't have sufficient spectator space or timing facilities for competitions.

Not just for elites

Ms Garrott said having competitions in the county would increase interest in the sport and help people like Shropshire's Olympic swimmer, Ollie Morgan.

But she did not want people thinking the pool was just needed for elite swimmers.

"It's not just for our Ollie Morgans of the future, it's for everybody," she said.

While the process so far had been "very frustrating", she said she was encouraged her association had been involved in the planning of the pool from an early stage.

She also said she felt the location of the proposed pool, on the outskirts of Shrewsbury was ideal.

The Sports Village in the Sundorne area of town would also get a second, smaller pool under the proposals, plus a new reception and cafe, a fitness suite, a dance studio and a children's soft play area.

Heather Kidd, the Lib Dem leader of Shropshire Council, said her authority "would not have committed to the planning application if we weren't going to build it".

"It is going to happen now," she added.

She also said a competition-standard pool would "make the Sports Village viable" and that swimming competitions would bring people to the county.