Veteran campaigner backs Holywell Mead bid (From Bucks Free Press)

Holywell Mead gets backing of veteran pool campaigner

3:58pm Tuesday 10th March 2009 in News By Alex Hayes

Holywell Mead pool has received backing from a veteran campaigner

A CAMPAIGNER who successfully saved an open air swimming pool in west London has backed the battle to save threatened Holywell Mead.

Edmund O'Brien spearheaded a group to save Uxbridge lido after it was closed by Hillingdon Council in 1984. It is now the focus of a multi-million pound sports centre.

He described the decision by Wycombe District Council to close the pool in The Rye, High Wycombe, as “an abuse of power”.

He said: “When Hillingdon Council first closed Uxbridge outdoor pool they cited similar figures about attendance and upkeep, all of which proved to be exaggerated and reversible.

“At first we hopped over the wall to do a bit of cleaning and painting. The council got tired of throwing us out and gave us the key.

“Eventually the pool was reopened and we formed a volunteer maintenance squad which saved thousands of pounds in running costs. We sourced cheap materials and second hand equipment.”

Outside public opening hours the pool was run as a swimming club open to all, and the campaigners only stopped once the council put forward plans to incorporate the pool in anew leisure centre Mr O'Brien also put forward ideas for saving the pool from the axe.

“If the Holywell Mead pool is to be run part time or for a short season let the regular swimmers run it as a club at other times. Volunteers can be recompensed with free swimming,” he said.

“The pool sits in beautiful surroundings with many activities going on, but it is psychologically isolated because you cannot see in and you cannot see out. This should be looked at in the long term.

“If the ruling Conservatives do not agree the pool should be kept open they must be dead from the neck up.”

Tomorrow night campaigners are holding a meeting to discuss ideas of how to save the pool, which has been open for 52 years.

There will be an hour-long drop in session between 5.30pm-6,30pm at the Environment Centre next to the pool, followed by a public meeting to discuss ideas at 7pm.