Swimming club fears impact of pool closure

A swimming club has warned the closure of Peterborough's only year-round public pool for refurbishment will have a "massive impact" on its members.

City of Peterborough Swimming Club (COPS) said the Jack Hunt pool had been a "lifeline" since the closure of the Regional Pool, with the facility hosting about 60% of its training sessions.

It comes as a report due before Peterborough City Council's cabinet on 21 July recommends a £3.8m refurbishment of the site. If approved, the facility on Bradwell Road would close for 24 weeks from next spring.

"We need huge help," said head coach Ben Negus.

" If we can't find alternatives, we will lose our memberships and that's not something we want to do.

"We want to be able to provide for the city like we have done for the last 90 years."

Built in the 1970s and managed by Vivacity, Jack Hunt is the city's only year-round pool that does not require membership.

The facility's upgrade plans include modernising the plant room, replacing lighting, refurbishing changing rooms and renovating the pool tank.

Negus told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire's Dotty McLeod that while the work was needed, the temporary closure would present significant challenges for the club.

"On Thursday, we got to the national championships. We have got 23 swimmers competing there. We punch well beyond our weight... but we do it in really difficult circumstances and this is going to really set us back," he said.

"It's an old pool in need of some love and care. The timing does help a bit, they are planning for the summer, so there's potential access to the Lido... it is still going to be a long period out, but it's vital for Jack Hunt.

"They [council] have thought about how to do it with the least impact. But it does impact us massively."

The council said the improvements were needed to prevent failures and secure the pool's long-term future.

The council also owns the Lido, which is open only during the summer months.

Vivacity also operates a pool at Hampton Leisure Centre, but access is restricted to gym members.

Shabina Qayyum, Labour leader for Peterborough City Council, said: "I see this as an investment for the future. We are not closing pools down. Yes, it will be inconvenient, but we have to be open about the state of the pools we have."

She added that delaying the work had been considered but was not viable because of potential health and safety risks.

"If we leave facilities like this to fester, there is a risk of issues such as legionella, which can be life-threatening. We don't want to put people at risk."

The council said it was looking for potential alternatives within the city for the swimming club, including working with Stanground Academy which has a pool.

The council said it had allocated £806,000 for the project, but councillors are being asked to approve the release of a further £2.2m and to accept a Sport England grant of £794,000.

Cabinet will consider the proposals at a meeting at Fletton Quays on 21 July.

Meanwhile, plans are progressing for a new £36m swimming pool to replace the demolished Regional Pool on Bishop's Road.

A planning application is expected to be submitted later this month, with the facility potentially opening in 2028.

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