Glimmer of hope for open-air pool
By Craig RobinsonCOUNCIL bosses have offered a £1million lifeline in an effort to safeguard the future of a town's open-air swimming pool. Ipswich Borough Council has proposed giving the money to the Broomhill Pool Trust if members can develop a business plan for refurbishing the facility and bringing it back into use.
By Craig Robinson
COUNCIL bosses have offered a £1million lifeline in an effort to safeguard the future of a town's open-air swimming pool.
Ipswich Borough Council has proposed giving the money to the Broomhill Pool Trust if members can develop a business plan for refurbishing the facility and bringing it back into use.
The council is also prepared to transfer ownership of the pool, in the town's Sherrington Road, if that secured its long-term future.
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Judy Terry, the council's culture and leisure portfolio holder, said: “I have met members of the pool's trust and we have discussed our proposals to try to take Broomhill forward.
“We believe our plans, which are supported by local MP Sir Michael Lord, will provide a strong foundation for the trust to exploit other funding opportunities.
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“We also believe strongly that we were right to suspend a bid to the
Heritage Lottery Fund, but our proposal to offer a capital sum of £1m proves that we are serious in our attempts to find a future for Broomhill.
“Under this proposal we would give the trust two years to come up with a sensible business plan.”
The pool, which was opened in the 1930s, is currently closed for structural repairs, but in recent times attracted 16,000 swimmers a year, in comparison to the 550,000 people who use Crown Pools and Fore Street annually.
The proposal will be discussed by the council's executive in the coming months.
craig.robinson@eadt.co.uk
