Town's 'save our pool campaign' in full swing
Residents of a town in south Shropshire are stepping up their campaign to save their swimming pool.
A number of events have been arranged to take place over the coming months to raise money for Church Stretton's pool.
Under Shropshire Council's indoor leisure strategy the authority has said it wants to keep a leisure centre in Church Stretton, but it will be a "tier two" facility, meaning it will lose council funding by the end of 2022/23.
Angie Walshaw, who is part of the Stretton Pool Action group fighting to save the pool, said that the facility needs to be 'cost neutral' by the end of 2023.
The group, which was formed in 2017, has been at the forefront of the campaign and has held numerous fundraising events and won grants in a bid to safeguard its future.
'Vital'
Angie said: "Pools are very expensive to operate and we are trying to raise money to help to reduce the running costs. Everything is a bit in the air at the moment with regard to council funding and we are working towards a timescale at the end of 2023.
"In an attempt to reduce running costs we have bought a new pool cover to cut down on heating costs and our next project is to install LED lighting to reduce the electricity costs. We are also looking at updating the glazing. We need a lot of money to do this, upwards of £50,000.
"We also need to replace the boiler but that will take a lot of money. This pool is vital to the town and the children who use it. It opened in 1971 and if it was to close it would be taking a step back 50 years.
"Before the pool was built, the children from the local schools had to be bussed to the pool in Shrewsbury. We would go back to that if it was to be closed. Generations of people have learned to swim there. At the moment the children from the primary school and the academy can walk to their lessons. It is a beautiful pool.
"The main focus is to keep it going and to fix the bigger things in the future."
An aquathlon takes place this weekend. It will involve a short swim in the pool followed by a run in the school sports field next door and all participants will receive a commemorative medal.
To enter go to gotri.org and use the map to find Church Stretton.
Other events over the next few months include a Grand National Steeplechase at the local pub, a pub quiz and a musical concert in June at the Silvester Horne Institute.
For more information contact Angie on 07778 286736.
