Call out for Portishead pool volunteers

A special recruitment morning is being held to bring together volunteers who want to help save Portishead's open-air pool.

Members of the Portishead Pool Community Trust have organised a special "joining morning" at the Somerset Hall, Portishead, on Saturday, February 21 from 9am to noon.

The idea of the event is to bring together all the people who have pledged their support to saving the pool and draw up a formal volunteer bank.

The trust has already submitted a detailed business plan to North Somerset Council outlining its plans to run the open-air pool.

Negotiations are continuing and a decision on whether the council will hand over the management of the seafront lido to trustees is expected in the next few weeks.

If the council gives the go ahead, the volunteers will be asked to help with refurbishing and running the pool, as well as fundraising.

Already the trust has received a wave of support and pledges from local people, both in cash and time.

Local businesses have also stepped forward with offers of refurbishing the changing rooms and installing solar panels to reduce the lido's running costs.

Volunteer organiser and fundraising trustee Pat Gardener said: "Whilst we are still awaiting the final decision on the takeover of the pool from the council, we must be ready to pull all the stops out.

"So many people have verbally pledged their help already from cash desk helpers and cleaning duties to offers of assistance in carpentry, decorating and gardening.

"The people of Portishead really do want the pool to reopen."

Refurbishment and some structural work will be required at the pool and volunteers are also needed to run the lido during the season.

Volunteers need to be over 16 and if under 18, have written permission from their parents. A minimum commitment of two hours is required.

Mrs Gardener said: "We now need to firm up the verbal promises given so we can plan our schemes of work and who will be doing them. Anyone who wants to get involved should pop along to the Somerset Hall on Saturday and put their name down for what they are able to do."

Pool supporters also plan to run a "Carpet of Cash" drive at the recruitment session in which they will urge people to lay down their cash as part of the Give a Pound for the Pool campaign, backed by the Post.

If anyone is unable to attend the event and still wants to get involved, they can ring Pat on 01275 845324 or 07866 376819.

- Collection boxes for the Give a Pound for the Pool campaign can be found at stores across the town including Nortech Computers, Larsen's Cafe, Portishead Business Centre, Morgan Westley, Bella Natura, Bennett's Barber Shop, Juicy Jones, Mother Nature, Hayley's Hair Studio, Portishead Pet and Garden Centre, The Outlet, McCormicks Cafe and Restaurant, Super Savers, Zebra and Carey's DIY, as well as Robert John Hairdressers at Cabstand and Mark's Barbers at West Hill.

Anyone wanting to make a donation can send a cheque or postal order made payable to Portishead Pool Community Trust, to Nortech Computers, 10 High Street, Portishead, BS20 6EW. People can also donate at www.portisheadopen airpool.org.uk.

If the council rejects the option of placing the pool in the hands of a trust and decides to close the pool, all funds will be donated to community projects in Portishead.