Anger over plans to close Bishopsworth Swimming Pool in Bristol
A FATHER-of-three has condemned plans to close Bishopsworth Swimming Pool at the end of the month.
Firefighter Nick Owen says he is disappointed with Bristol City Council's decision to axe the popular pool, which has been serving the community for almost 40 years.
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Back, from left, Nick Owen, Rich Holcombe, Councillor Richard Eddy, Karen Owen and Wendy Williams with local children unhappy about Bishopsworth Swimming Pool closing
The pool in Whitchurch Lane will shut its doors on February 28 to be replaced by a new Olympic-size swimming pool in Hengrove Park.
But Mr Owen, who lives in Headley Park, says it will be harder for his family to reach to the new pool and swimming there will be more expensive.
He also believes the council missed a big opportunity by not creating a leisure pool with water slides and flumes to compete with the Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon.
Mr Owen says his children Danny, 10, Jasmine, 12, and Jade, 13, regularly walk or cycle the short distance to Bishopsworth Pool to take a dip with their friends. But he believes it will not be safe for them to walk to the new pool in Hengrove, meaning he will have to ferry them there by car instead.
Mr Owen said: "They are taking away the only facility for kids to enjoy sport in our area. I've seen the website for the new pool in Hengrove and it looks very disappointing.
"It's another big opportunity missed by the council – surely they could have come up with a better design incorporating a family pool with slides instead of this standard pool."
Mr Owen takes his children to the Oasis twice a year – a journey which takes about an hour each way.
He said: "It's such a shame they've come up with a basic design for the Hengrove pool. It would have been an ideal place to put in a pool with flumes and a water park – there is enough room over there. Swindon must have been laughing when they heard Bristol was building a new pool and hadn't come up with something to compete with the Oasis.
"It wouldn't take a lot of money to keep the swimming pool open. It will be probably be used for flats at the end of the day, which is a shame."
The council says there is "not a viable business case" for keeping the Bishopsworth pool open, given its close proximity to the new 50-metre, 10 lane pool, which is due to open on February 29.
City council spokeswoman Helen Hewitt said: "We appreciate some people will be disappointed Bishopsworth Pool is closing but this has always been our intention ever since the decision to build Hengrove was taken many years ago. All the swim clubs which use Bishopsworth will be accommodated at the new pool.
"There is 'leisure' water in Bristol – with a flume at Easton. The new Hengrove pool will be fantastic for all swimmers of all abilities."
13 Comments
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by Rascle
Thursday, February 09 2012, 8:03PM
“@ Oddly.. Wait & see till after the Lib Dem budget on the 28th feb when they miraculously announce that the Jubilee will Re Open after being renovated with a new gym in the Lib Dem ward of Knowle, Just a shame they never had the forward thinking of keeping both pools going, or giving Bishopworth Pool a trial period whilst Hengrove is open, they just cant see that the amount of wards & schools covered by the Hengrove pool will make this pool extremely busy & very packed... By then, It will be too late!!”
by Oddly
Thursday, February 09 2012, 4:12PM
“@ Rascle. Jubilee closes on Feb 22nd. Half the changing cubiles are already ripped out in the gents area, and any thorough toilet cleaning has ceased in readiness.”
by SpinyHedgehog
Thursday, February 09 2012, 4:02PM
“Look, it's perfectly simple. The Lib Dems hate sport, particularly if it gives pleasure to working class men.”
by Rooney99
Thursday, February 09 2012, 3:12PM
“If you're female and 18+, dress size 8-12. Then you may use my bath as a private swimming pool. I work as the lifeguard and patrol the pool area. Please contact me if you are interested and I will provide you with membership details.”
by Rascle
Thursday, February 09 2012, 2:28PM
“Bishopworth Is being closed because its on the boarder of a Labour & Tory Ward, the Jubilee is being kept open because its in Gary Hopkins Lib Dem Ward, they could of saved Bishopworth or kept our trial period, but are deciding to keep the Jubilee & build a Gym instead totalling £380k over 5 years, just paying the interest back will be 28k a year. Thats a Lib Dem budget for you!!! im alright Jack in my ward S#D the rest of you, attitude......very sad!!”
by vrwrtuy
Thursday, February 09 2012, 2:17PM
“Yep, same as Jubilee pool in Knowle being closed down at the same time. Coincidence, or a fiendish plot to force us all out to Hengrove. I currently walk to Jubilee to avoid all the traffic so now I'm going to have to get in my car ( or bike ) to some pool which I can only currently see on some video in a little shed with a vague promise it will all be up and running by the end of the month. In fairness, we all have to give the new pool a go, but it will be interesting if numbers go down what they will then do.”
by Roversteve
Thursday, February 09 2012, 12:52PM
“I assume Councilcritic you are referring to the Memorial Stadium plans as the Uwe Stadium is not encountering problems apart from not being built soon enough. The rest of the posts are spot on apart from the Knigel one(probably works for the Council!).Anything that involves sport or the use of a car(shock horror) is jumped on from a great height!!”
by Oddly
Thursday, February 09 2012, 10:54AM
“Its the same in Knowle - ""cycling City" - but facilities being located out of town at the same time. Keep Jubilee Pool open too!”
by councilcritic
Thursday, February 09 2012, 10:49AM
“What we need in Bristol is Lansdown Council, not Bristol City Council, they are the sworn enemy of the people of Bristol, in particular the Liberal Democrat waste of spaces, it is no surprise whatsoever that they are closing this pool, I dont think this is the only one earmarked for closure either sadly enough, they let every possible hurdle get in the way of the Ashton gate Stadium, Bristol Rovers are also encountering problems with their plans, they let Unite have planning permission to build their flats so the Ice Rink goes, planning permission refused for the County Ground extension, they waste millions on Bus Routes everybody along them hates, they narrow roads, build obtrusive bus stops and close roads causing congestion to worsen everywhere. How on earth can anyone want to vote for these LIBERAL DEMOCRAT people ? they truly are not on your side people of Bristol.”
by 780715JVB1
Thursday, February 09 2012, 10:17AM
“KNIGEL - have you seen the roads between Bishopsworth and Hengrove? Fair enough it is only about another mile and a half, but it's all beside dual carriageways and crossing fast moving traffic - I wouldn't let my kids do that.
I've been to Easton pool twice for parties that my kids have been invited to and while it does have some good facilities, I get a bit fed up with the insurance claims as my car has been broken into on both occasions.
Given the size of the Hengrove development I do think they could have been a bit more ambitious with the plans.”