Lib Dems: let someone else run axed pool (From Bucks Free Press)

Party wants alternate cash for Holywell Mead, High Wycombe

2:35pm Tuesday 3rd March 2009 in Search By Oliver Evans

AN opposition councillor is trying to find alternate funding to keep open axed Holywell Mead swimming pool in High Wycombe.

Liberal Democrat Julia Wassell said she wanted to put together a consortium to come up with a business plan that would keep the facility, by the Rye.

She said her early thoughts were that it could open three days a week instead of the usual seven and more use could be made of the venue for private parties.

Conservative-run Wycombe District Council last week voted to close the pool as bosses said it was under-used and cost too much.

Yet a Tory leader said while the council would be open to discussions about outside funding this would need to see the pool used more instead of less.

Cllr Wassell, whose party opposed the closure, said: “I have been contacted by a number of local residents who want the pool to continue.

“There is a lot of anger amongst them who clearly feel let down by the council.”

She said: “It is not going to be easy and the business model will have to change but I will leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of maintaining the pool on the Rye.

“I hope local businesses and the Bucks Free Press will join this new phase of our campaign.”

The pool could become a “premier party venue” she said and could include a stall for Fairtrade food and drink products, which give a “fair deal” to third world producers.

The move echoes a campaign Cllr Wassell fought to take control of Micklefield Library from Buckinghamshire County Council, which pulled its funding.

A charity was set up and took over the running of the High Wycombe library, a move replicated in others parts of the county.

A similar arrangement could be made to run the pool, said Cllr Wassell, a district council member for Bowerdean.

Tory councillor Tony Green, responsible for leisure, said any plan would need to increase usage of the pool and include a major re-vamp of the site.

The pool would have to open all year round, he said. Cllr Wassell said a membership-run scheme could be set up for winter swimmers.

Cllr Green said: “We have always said we are open to any feasible plan that comes forward and we will be looking, now the decision has been made, for alternative uses for the pool.”

Cllr Green added: “If an open air swimming pool is viable in some way then that is fine. If it isn’t we will be looking for alternative uses for the site.”

The council would keep it for community and leisure use, he said, whatever the outcome. “We are not going to demolish it for flats,” he said.

Cllr Green said: “I don’t think we are looking to make a profit, I think we are looking to remove the cost.”

The closure plan was opposed by almost 400 South Bucks Star readers and more than 2,000 people who signed a Lib Dem petition.

Party Wycombe parliamentary spokesman Steve Guy said “It is early days with a long way to go but Julia was once told Micklefield library couldn't be saved and look at the success of that campaign “I am hopeful her experience will bring dividends to this new phase of our campaign.”

The council said the pool would cost £66,000 to run a year and need £60,000 worth of upgrading works over five years.

The closure was among a number of cuts to save £1.68m.