Southwell: Concern over pool closure for £5.5m rebuild

Southwell Swimming Pool could close if plans are backed by councillors

Swimmers have voiced concerns after a council confirmed a pool could close while a replacement is built.

Newark and Sherwood District Council will vote on plans to commit £5.5m to build a brand new swimming facility in Southwell on Tuesday.

Council leader Paul Peacock said paying to fix the current pool would "not be good use of taxpayer's money".

In the short-term, swimmers would visit pools in Newark and Ollerton while the new pool is built.

The current facility, located in Southwell Leisure Centre, in Nottingham Road, is more than 60 years old, and was taken over by the council two years ago in a bid to save it from closure.

Mr Peacock said "not surprisingly", the pool was showing signs of its age, and therefore the council was having to spend money on sorting out repair issues.

He said the most significant issue was that the main pool had been leaking a "large amount of water", which would cost more than £600,000 to repair.

"Instead, we want to build a completely new swimming facility on land adjacent to the current leisure centre," he said.

"This is better value for money in the long-term and should be seen as a first step towards replacing all of the current leisure centre with a new one."

However, local swimmers voiced concerns over the plans, stating that other nearby pools are too full for additional members.

'Long time away'

One swimmer, Mary Ballingall, said: "We just don't think that the people making the decisions have got any idea how much the pool means to us and so we just feel that they will toddle along in their own sweet time and do it when they've got the money, if ever.

"I am entirely sceptical."

Another swimmer, Lee Mulraney, said there was a "long way to go" before the new pool was built.

"Obviously it's great that a new pool is even a consideration, but it feels like a long time away," he said.

"Unfortunately that's a long time where people don't get to use the facility."

However, some are more positive about the new facility.

Hollie Wilbraham, a regular swimmer at the centre, said: "I'm really pleased to hear that a new swimming pool is to be built in Southwell, which will be fantastic, especially for the children."

Susan Crosby, portfolio holder for health, wellbeing and leisure, said: "People will be understandably disappointed that the main swimming pool will remain closed, but my message is to bear with us and look forward to a brand new swimming facility."

The learner pool at the leisure centre will remain open for children and their families, while the new facilities are built, the council said.