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Published:
December 13, 2007
Huge
public meeting to be held on Burnham swimming pool closure plans
A
public meeting is set to be held in Burnham-On-Sea next week where
residents and users of the town's swimming pool will be able to
air their views about the controversial plans to shut the facility.
 The
event is being organised by Burnham campaign group SOS - Save
Our Swimming pool - which held its first meeting of its members
on Thursday night (December 13th) as pictured.
"Gathering
the public's views is very important - we know there are lots
of strong feelings and want to know how the public wants this
to be resolved," said SOS group Chairman Tom Ashton.
"Swift,
urgent action is needed if a pool is to be kept in the town, which
is why a public meeting is needed before Christmas," he added.
The
date, time and venue of the public meeting will be announced on
Burnham-On-Sea.com once the final details have been confirmed.
The
SOS meeting on Thursday saw residents venting their anger over
the Sedgemoor District Council proposals.
Pat
Pusill, Team Manager at Burnham Swimming Club, said over 650 children
from Burnham Swimming Club and Bridgwater Swimming Club would
be affected by any closure. She asked: "If they close the
pool in 2008, what will be closed in Burnham the following year
to balance the budgets? We can't let this go by."
Alan
Pendleton, who used to run Burnham's triathlons, said he was concerned
that the annual events and aquathon may have to be scrapped altogether
if the pool closure proceeds. "Even the Stert Island Swim
could be under threat if the local participants can't properly
train for the event," he said.
 Cllr
Peter Clayton, who was at the meeting to offer his support, said:
"A final decision could be taken on this in mid-January so
we need a solid action plan and to gather as much information
as possible after the implications of a possible closure if Sedgemoor
is to be persuaded to change its plans."
Cllr
Joe Leach added that an alternative budget to keep Burnham Swimming
Pool open is being prepared by local Liberal Democrats. "We
are not turning this issue into a party political one, but we
are taking a close look at the alternatives available to Sedgemoor
District Council.
Cllr
Arthur Thorogood gave an update at the meeting on the Sedgemoor
Swimming Pools Task Group, which met earlier this week to discuss
the proposals.
"The
group has identified a number of serious options for Burnham pool
that we are actively pursuing," he said. "There will
be a further meeting of the group in early January, after which
the group will report back to the full district council in mid-January."
Burnham-On-Sea.com
reported last week
how the cash-strapped council had announced plans to shut the
Berrow Road pool by April 2008 because it is losing up to £250,000
a year. The proposals have been met with shock and dismay by local
residents.
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