1:35pm Thursday 24th September 2009
TELEVISION presenter Fern Britton has slammed “short-sighted” council chiefs for closing Holywell Mead outdoor swimming pool.
The Holmer Green resident has written a letter of support to campaigners trying to re-open the pool by donations and volunteers.
The pool did not re-open this summer after Wycombe District Council voted to close it to save cash, claiming it was under-used.
An extract from her letter released by campaigners states: “The young people of High Wycombe need as much healthy outdoor activity as possible.
“To close down such a unique pool would be very short-sighted of our generally good council.”
Neil Bailey, chairman of the Holywell Mead Pool Trust Steering Group, which is fighting to re-open the pool, welcomed the news.
He said: “It’s great to have such a high profile local personality offering words of support.
“The health of young people and having such facilities available is essential.
“Once they have gone they have disappeared forever and we must not let this happen.”
Miss Britton’s agent, John Rush, told the Bucks Free Press: “Fern has sent them a letter of support.”
The group gave the council a plan which proposed opening the pool all-year-round and fitting a telescopic roof. It would be run by a charity, not the council.
But WDC said health and safety requirements had not been met and the business model contained “fundamental flaws” (see link, bottom of story).
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