Doubts cast over pool's future in Backwell
VISITOR numbers to Backwell swimming pool have plummeted by more than 20 per cent over the past year – sparking fears for its future.
A special report put together by North Somerset Council's community services policy and scrutiny panel working group has spent the past three months investigating swimming provision in both Backwell and Nailsea.
It found visitors to Backwell pool decreased by 22 per cent between 2007 and 2008 – despite other centres reporting increases.
The group was tasked with job of reviewing swimming provision in both areas to assess whether it would be better to build a new pool at Scotch Horn Leisure Centre in Nailsea or invest cash to refurbish Backwell.
Swim campaigners have been pressing the authority to consider building a state-of-the-art pool at Scotch Horn for a number of years.
In December 2005, the Nailsea Swimming Pool Interest Group secured outline permission to build a new facility at the rear of the leisure centre. But the report says a new pool will cost about £5 million and although some funding may be available from a contractor, the authority would still have to find about £3m towards the project.
Refurbishing Backwell Pool would be about £2.36m.
Panel chairman Councillor Andy Cole admitted the group had been unable to make a definite recommendation on whether to improve Backwell or close it and build a new pool in Nailsea.
But he said something had to be done to improve swimming and leisure facilities in the area.
The report will go to a meeting of the community services policy and scrutiny panel on Tuesday, December 2 for consideration before a final recommendation is made to the authority's executive.
2 Comments
by Richard, Weston
Monday, February 15 2010, 10:04PM
“The figures the council used were inaccurate, as poorly collected due to only a tick sheet on the desk if any customer were to pay attention. This was reliant on the quality of the staff to be filled out. They now have a better till fully departmentalised. Other sites have had very heavy investment but not Backwell because the council can't decide it's fate & so it deteriorates. If they had just decided to keep it permanently in 2006 then maybe they could have invested in it but the saga still continues!!! Backwell participates in many promotions but it depends on who the promotion company invites & what the terms are. If backwell has a promo with one company it may be barred from running one with a rival and if it runs too many, then whois paying to use the facilities? Currently there is a gas free swim, swepps water, & swimathon free promos plus the councils coupon packs & free activities for families of armed forces & foster care families”
by Pete, Backwell
Friday, November 28 2008, 4:35PM
“One of the reasons for it's decline could be the belated and half hearted refurb it is currently receiving.
Other facilities in Clevedon and Portishead, though neither of them perfect, are much better, with a much cleaner feel than Backwell. Particularly the changing rooms, where I don't particularly like taking my child.
This could be the reason that people have increased the numbers in other pools, as they no longer enjoy swimming at Backwell and have deserted it for that reason.
Also, as has been noted in various other comments that I have read, perhaps if the facilities could offer a more even mix of swimming lessons AND family/anybody swim sessions people would be more willing to go.
I was also disappointed to recently take my family to Backwell, hoping to use a national discount voucher that had been accepted in other North Somerset pools, only to be told that Backwell wasn't taking part in the scheme.
Instances like this will not help repeat business.
However, despite all of this, surely it must make more sense to refurbish this site and not take up much used and enjoyed green space in the heart of Nailsea?
I agree it would be nice to have a swimming pool in Nailsea, but why must it always be at the expense of Backwell?”