Pool closures risk young people drowning - union

The GMB union said the closures of swimming pools across Great Britain was "terrifying"

Young people are at risk of drowning because of the "terrifying" number of swimming pools that have closed in the last decade, a union says.

A study, conducted by the GMB union, indicates 500 public pools have closed since 2010, with almost half shutting since the pandemic. A coalition, including the Local Government Association (LGA), is now calling for renewed funding.

A report from the coalition, said 30% of children in Year 7 could not swim 25 metres confidently, which was up from 27% in 2017/18.

The union's study said council-owned swimming pools had closed in London, West and East Midlands, south west, south east and north east England, Wales, Scotland and Yorkshire.

The LGA has welcomed a recent announcement by the government of £400m for grassroots sports facilities.

However, Kevin Brandstatter, GMB national officer, said the Conservatives' "grim legacy of austerity" had left "brutal scars" across society.

'Years to repair damage'

"Learning to swim is a basic life skill, splashing in a pool is a fundamental childhood joy - two things being potentially now denied to thousands of youngsters," he said.

"Taken to its extreme, it leaves young people at risk of drowning.

"It's going to take years to repair the damage the Tories did, but Labour's fair funding review must start funding local authorities properly again."

Coventry Sports and Leisure Centre shut in 2020, and has been costing the city council £400,000 a year in mothballing and security costs. Earlier this month, a plan to demolish it was unveiled

The coalition calling for renewed funding also includes the Chief Cultural and Leisure Officers Association, Community Leisure UK, Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers, Swim England, and ukactive.

They said funding should be invested in facilities people rely on every day to stay active and healthy.

A spokesperson for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said it had pledged £400m to support grassroots facilities, and it was now working with the sport and leisure sector to help get people active.

"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," they said.

'Urgent investment needed'

The coalition's report said 60% of swimming pools were beyond their expected lifespan or in need of refurbishment.

"Local communities rely on sport and leisure facilities every day, whether it is swimming for the family or going to the gym," said Liz Green, chairwoman of the LGA's culture, tourism and sport board.

"The benefits to both physical and mental health can be life-changing, yet without urgent investment we risk losing these altogether."

The pool at the former Ships & Castles Leisure Centre, Falmouth, has not been used since the site closed in 2022

In February 2020, Coventry's Sports and Leisure Centre closed due to spiralling maintenance and repair costs. Earlier this month, the council said it would apply to demolish the part of the building housing the pool.

Members of the public have been invited to have their say on the future of Richmond Swimming Pool, North Yorkshire, which shut in April after a partial ceiling collapse.

'At risk on beaches'

In June, Northbrook was the third leisure facility to be closed since 2018 by the Labour-led Exeter City Council, which is understood to have spent about £44m on the St Sidwell's Point facility, which opened in 2022.

A Cornwall head teacher warned in June that children unable to swim confidently because local schools had difficulty providing swimming lessons could be at risk on the beach this summer. It follows the closure of the pool at Ships & Castles Leisure Centre in 2022.

Some areas have seen new pools - like the Whitchurch Swimming and Fitness Centre in Shropshire in March, Ringmer Pool in East Sussex in June, and two new swimming facilities at the Rivermead Leisure Centre in Reading, in June 2024.