Portishead pool: We won't thrown in towel
A new campaign to fight plans to close Portishead's Open Air Pool for good has been launched.
Businessman Roger Whitfield and resident David Coombes have joined forces to set up the Save Portishead Open Air Pool campaign after council chiefs revealed plans to permanently shut the seafront facility.
The pool closed, for what could be the final time, at the end of the 2008 summer season on September 28.
A special review panel, set up by North Somerset Council earlier this year to review the running costs of the pool, has recommended it closes and the site is sold off because the attraction costs the authority an average of £130,000 each year to run.
Mr Whitfield, who runs Nortech Computers in the town, is now planning a public protest outside the pool tomorrow from 4pm to 4.30pm, to show the strength of support locally to keep the facility open.
He has also spent the weekend handing out more than 200 leaflets in the High Street informing people of the protest and putting up posters in more than 50 shops urging people to join the campaign.
A website – www.nortechcomputers.co.uk/pool – has been set up to provide information about the pool closure plan.
Those who oppose the closure can sign a petition at Nortech Computers and Morgan Westley in the High Street.
Mr Whitfield, 43, who moved to Portishead when he was seven, said: "It is important that we gather public opinion to show the council that the people of Portishead want to keep the pool open.
"I am hoping as many people as possible will come along to the demonstration tomorrow to show the strength of feeling about keeping the pool open.
"The threat to close the pool for good is a very real one and the people of Portishead need to stand up and be counted and fight against this proposal."
Mr Whitfield said when he heard the news that the pool's future was under threat, he contacted the council with the idea of setting up a trust – as did the Friends of Portishead Open Air Pool group – to run the facility.
But Mr Whitfield said the idea fell on deaf ears.
Mr Whitfield, of Conference Avenue, said: "The pool is a popular attraction in Portishead and you only have to go down there on a nice day in the summer to see it full of people, including lots of teenagers.
"Portishead is stuffed full of young people with little to do and taking away the pool would mean even less facilities for them and other members of the community.
"I have fond memories of the pool and when I was a child my friends and I used it a lot and I want my children to be able to do the same."
Pool campaigner Annette Hennessy is also fighting the closure plan and, with the help of the Friends' group, is questioning the figures and recommendations contained in the report by the review panel.
The review panel is recommending that the money used to subsidise the pool would be better spent on more important council priorities, including new investment at Parish Wharf Leisure Centre in Portishead.
A final decision on whether the pool will close will be taken by North Somerset's executive on Tuesday, October 28.
If rubber stamped, the site would then be put up for sale, netting the authority an estimated £600,000.
Fears have already been voiced that the site would be turned into a luxury flats development.
5 Comments
by Roger Thompson, Portishead
Tuesday, October 07 2008, 8:01PM
“At a time when Portishead is growing and developing, this proposed closure is a travesty of epic and short-sighted proportions on the part of our elected representatives.
Even if you disregard our recent Olympic medal haul, the constant press coverage featuring 'overweight' youngsters with 'nothing to do', the Sport England drive to enable everyone to swim or the current 'Great Activity Revolution' cited by the Institute of Youth Sport, you cannot ignore the importance of local community facilities, the influence they have on members of that community and the impact this closure will have.
A facility like this can never just be accounted for by the 'bottom line' and the council using the cost efficiency argument is a lazy and irresponsible cop-out.
That the pool site could benefit from improvement and modernisation is not in any doubt. That the council have not undertaken this by way of maintenance or investment is a criminal waste of an opportunity and negligent. With the installation of currently available renewable energy technologies, investment or grant funding and proper forward thinking management, Portishead Open Air Pool could not only be brought into the 21st century, but also become a treasured resource benefiting the area and the local community for years to come. As the council seems reticent to realise the potential of our pool - for the long-term good of Portishead, perhaps the time is right to hand over the responsibility of running it to members of the public.”
by Annette Hennessy, Portishead
Tuesday, October 07 2008, 7:04PM
“The Review Report that has been issued by North Somerset Council has various background papers which can be obtained from the council. From these papers, it is clear that the findings of the Review have been made with no sound basis. Much of the vital information contains discrepancies or is missing completely. One example is a usage table that claims nobody went to the pool during the last week of August. There is however evidence that people did use the pool so why are the council's figures so wrong? The Review Panel should go back to do its job properly - scrutiny panels would be wasting valuable time and money "scrutinising" information that is incorrect to begin with.”
by Anon, Bristol
Tuesday, October 07 2008, 12:37PM
“Brian, does it matter what stance the BEP takes on this issue?? Not sure what relevant that has.”
by Jacqueline, Bristol
Tuesday, October 07 2008, 10:36AM
“I definitely think the pool should stay open. I live in South Glos and always have done but as a child I used to use this pool a lot. This was our treat as children in the school holidays - my mum would take us to Portishead for the day and we would always go in the pool. It was great. I have very many happy memories of it. Keep it open.”
by Brian, Bristol
Tuesday, October 07 2008, 8:46AM
“What is the stance of Bristol Evening Post???
Are they in support of keeping the pool open?”