Rising costs a threat to pool's future, staff say

Tadcaster Community Swimming Pool's 31-year history makes maintenance costly, says its facility manager

Staff at a charity-run swimming pool in North Yorkshire say they will be forced to pass on rising costs to customers without further financial support.

Tadcaster Community Swimming Pool says it is facing increasing maintenance costs, higher National Insurance contributions for staff pay and increased minimum wage and energy bills.

Chris Hirst, facility manager at the pool's trust, said: "If we don't have something change, then some difficult conversations will need to be had."

The government said it was working with the sector to understand what was needed. North Yorkshire Council was also contacted for a comment.

Mr Hirst said the "knock-on effects" of the National Insurance increase and higher minimum wage introduced in April could have a "massive impact" on the site.

The pool, which opened in 1994, told the BBC about the challenges it faced with higher energy bills in 2022.

Mr Hirst said they remained "sky high" at £200,000 per year, resulting in the potential for customers to face higher prices in future.

"That could potentially have a negative effect and see people cancel or choose other activities to do," he added.

Mr Hirst said the pool's record of funding itself made it difficult to ask for help

He said the pool's 31-year history led to maintenance challenges as "a lot of stuff from when the building was built no longer exists".

The history of being self-sufficient and independent also made seeking and accepting financial support difficult, he added.

"We're trying to get ourselves in a position where we are not losing money hand over fist in the next few years, to make us more viable."

Options for further financial support were now being explored by the trust, with support from North Yorkshire councillor Kirsty Poskitt.

The independent councillor for Tadcaster said the "incredible" team had "fought many battles" in recent years.

"I'm a really big champion of communities looking after themselves," she said.

"What I think we need to look at is what happens when there are challenging financial times - how can we make sure that those places can keep ticking over."

Poskitt highlighted recent cases where North Yorkshire Council had financially supported an authority-run swimming pool in Richmond and football pitch in Scarborough.

"All of those areas that support public health are really important for the authority to invest in," she said.

"However, those that are smaller and managing themselves shouldn't have to suffer when things get difficult for them."

A government spokesperson said it was "absolutely committed" to reducing pressure on the NHS and "building a healthier nation".

"Having pledged £400m to support grassroots facilities, we are now working with the sport and leisure sector and local areas to understand what's needed to get people active in their community," they said.

"We will ensure that this funding promotes health, wellbeing and community cohesion and helps to remove the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups."

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