Holywell Mead group unveils rescue plan (From This Is Local London)

Open air Wycombe pool could be saved with new plan

4:20pm Monday 11th May 2009 in News By Alex Hayes

A new business plan to save Holywell Mead pool has been produced

A VOLUNTARY group has revealed an ambitious plans to help save the closed Holywell Mead swimming pool.

The steering group set up to try and save the treasured pool in The Rye, High Wycombe, revealed the plans on its website over the weekend.

They hope they can make the pool, which traditionally only opened for 13 weeks a year, into a money making business.

To help with this there are plans to put a telescopic roof over so the pool can be used all year round.

In February councillors voted to close the outdoor pool in a bid to save £66,000-a-year as part of a series of money saving measures.

Neil Bailey, who heads up the steering group, said they hope to meet with Wycombe District Council this week to discuss the plans.

He said: “We had several complaints about the way the pool was run before. One was a lot of people did not know it is heated and a lot of people did not even know it existed.

“If the pool is only being closed for financial reasons then I believe we can save it. I believe we can sit down with the council as partners and go from there.

“I have no political affiliations. I am coming at this as a member of the community who wants to save the pool. I don't just want it saved as an old building, but to make more of it..”

If successful the group would form a charity to run the pool as a not-for-profit enterprise, and would partner the Longridge Centre in Marlow which was saved from closure by a similar enterprise.

Mr Bailey added: “The centre was threatened at one time and they had to create a charity to save it. They have really turned things around and made it really successful. We would like to mimic them.

“Their season ends in October and restarts after Easter, so there's a six month period there we could offer the use of the pool for people to come and train for things like canoeing.”

Upgrades needed to the site would include converting the paddling pool into a teaching pool, a child friendly aquatic play area, and improved changing facilities.

It is also hoped to become a low chemical pool, cut carbon emissions from heating and lighting, and add the telescopic roof. It is estimated the total spend to do this would be around £400,000.

In the plan it says it is anticipated the pool could make £300,000-a-year, with around ten per cent being reinvested into the facilities.

Mr Bailey said there has also been interest from local groups, with a combined membership of more than 10,000 people, in using the facilities. Only 7,000 people used the pool last summer.

There are also plans to establish an Amateur Swimming Association education centre to help provide relevant training for local people, and use the pool as a venue for parties.

“It is unlikely the pool will be opened again this year. The council has done a good job in maintaining the pool, and we think the upgrade work will take about four months,” added Mr Bailey.

“We want to get it done before we open to the public as there has been enough disruption for them, and we don't want them put off by having certain sections closed off.”

To view the outline plan click the link below.