Isle of Man swimming club bosses hit out at closure threat

The Southern Swimming Pool is one of three facilities run by local authorities

A swimming club based at a pool under threat of closure has accused ministers of failing to recognise its benefits.

The Southern IOM Amateur Swimming Club said basing the move on financial issues ignored the benefits the pool has for the wider community.

The education department is set to seek Tynwald backing for the Castletown facility to be closed on 31 March.

The club said it now faced the "real prospect of being made homeless in the next three months".

An annual government subvention of about £1.1m is paid to prop up the island's three sites, run by local authorities in the south, north, and west.

'Personal development'

Last week staff at the pool were told that the Department of Education, Sport and Culture intended to ask politicians to back a recommendation to close the Castletown pool and use the money to increase funding for those in Ramsey and Peel.

The move would save the department £434,000 a year and "allow it to support the remaining pools within budget", it said.

A previous report said the southern facility had had "years of under investment".

DESC Minister Julie Edge said although it was a "very difficult situation" but there was not "enough money to maintain the status quo in this extremely challenging financial climate".

The swimming club has about 100 members, "some of whom could be the future swimming stars" of the island, it said in a statement.

"Our success in the pool is important to us, however, there is far more to our club than just competitive swimming," the statement said.

"We are a community that supports the personal development of our swimmers, many of whom go on to be swim coaches, swim teachers, lifeguards and volunteers in other settings," it continued.

The club said it remained "hopeful" the department would reverse its recommendation or it would be voted down.

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