Future of Burnham-On-Sea pool could be decided on March 26th

Published: March 7, 2008
Future of Burnham-On-Sea pool could be decided on March 26th

The fate of Burnham-On-Sea's closure-threatened swimming pool could be decided at the end of March, it was confirmed on Thursday evening (March 6th).

Duncan McGinty, the Leader of Sedgemoor District Council, told a meeting in Burnham Community Centre that "much groundwork has been made by our Task and Finish Group in recent weeks and we are moving towards a successful conclusion."

He confirmed that five groups have shown an interest in taking over the pool so far and that the tenders would be considered by the district council on March 26th, when a decision on the pool's future could be made.

"We should know on that date whether we have a viable offer on the table from one of the intrerested parties," said Mr McGinty (pictured alongside Task Group members Arthur Thorogood, Anne Bown, Neville Jones and Teresa Harvey).

But several of the residents in the 50-strong audience said that if none of the bids were acceptable this schedule would leave ot enough time for the pool to be taken over by a community organisation.

"We need to know if we're going to have to set up a community organisation as soon as possible," said Burnham shop owner Phil Hemmings, who asked whether more time could be given to setting up the community organisation beyond May 31st.

Mr McGinty said this would not be possible, adding: "I won't be able to go back to my council and ask for more time if we don't have some positive news from the potential new owners."

Cllr Joe Leach said he thought it would be wise for local residents to start looking in detail at setting up the community organisation as a "fall-back plan" so that something could be in place as soon as possible.

But Cllr Ann Bown, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Sport and Culture at the district council, hit back by stating: "The community has known this has been coming for a long time. If the community felt it wanted to come in and take it on, then it's had time."

Cllr Leach said this was not the case, and that news of the pool's possible closure had "come as a bombshell on everybody."

Tom Ashton, Chairman of the Save Our Swimming pool (SOS) group, thanked the 'Task and Finish Group' group for the work it has been doing, adding: "I am pleased with the work so far and hope we'll be popping champagne corks in a few weeks' time."

However, he voiced concerns that the pool has been "mis-managed" in recent years and added that the pool's finances could have been handled far better if the district council had directed funds towards "maintanence and proper promotion of the pool". But Mr McGinty rejected the claims and invited Mr Ashton to send any evidence of mis-management to the council where it would be "fully investigated."

It also emerged at the meeting that an advert promoting the lease of the pool had been mis-printed in a local weekly newspaper, which stated the pool is based in Bridgwater. But Teresa Harvey said she was not considering running the advert a second time since it had been published correctly in the trade magazine Leisure Opportunities.