Authority backs request for pool contribution rise

The move would see a £265 increase to Castletown's contribution

A rise in financial support given to a regional swimming pool has been backed by a southern local authority.

The Southern Swimming Pool board requested the increase of 0.1p to take the total from Castletown Commissioners' rates to 6.2p, which is the maximum allowed.

During its latest meeting, the authority agreed to the £265, taking its contribution to £16,452.44 to help cover a deficit at the facility, which was under threat of closure last January.

The pool board had written to all southern local authorities requesting the increase to "offset" the loss extra treasury funding for energy costs, which stopped in February.

It follows a recommendation earlier this year by the Department of Education, Sports and Culture (Desc) to close the pool on funding grounds, before a "survival plan" for the facility was backed.

The southern facility is funded by contributions from local authorities in Castletown, Port Erin, Port St Mary, Rushen, Arbory and Malew.

'Asset'

An annual government subvention of about £1.7m is paid to sustain the island's regional pools, which are run by local authorities in the north, south and west.

Chairwoman of Castletown Commissioners Beth Cannan said the facility was an "asset" to the south of the island and the authority was "happy" to pay the money as it was "important" to keep the pool open for the community.

"I think we need a pool in the south, I think we need to encourage it to stay and we need to do our best for a new pool in the future with the new school", Cannan added.

In June, Education, Sport and Culture Minister Daphne Caine said plans for a new swimming pool in the south of the island would progress after the replacement of Castle Rushen had been built.

Additional reporting by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.