Work will start soon on a major £600,000 renovation scheme at Swim Torquay that will secure its long-term future as a community pool.
The scheme is going ahead thanks to £450,000 in financial support from Torbay Council and £150,000 from Sport England’s Inspired Facilities fund.
The Plainmoor pool will remain open whilst preparatory works are carried out. Repair and replacement works will then get underway on Monday 8 July, requiring its closure.
The scheme is expected to take 16 weeks, but the pool will re-open earlier if work finishes ahead of schedule. The estimated work period could be affected if the builders identify any other issues that need to be addressed.
The pool’s future was put in doubt after a structural survey identified problems with the roof. Equipment was also dated and inefficient, making its day to day running very expensive.
The planned work includes removing the roof and repair work to support structures, replacement using insulated roofing material to enhance the buildings efficiency and reduce energy costs. The depth of the swimming pool will be reprofiled to allow more swimming lesson capability, and pool tiles and surround tiles will be replaced.
A major part of the work will see the removal of the old inefficient gas boilers and their replacement with energy efficient systems. New electrical and ventilation systems will be installed to increase energy efficiency.
Torbay Mayor Gordon Oliver said: “The pool has made a significant contribution to the community over many years. I recognise the importance of trying to secure its future for at least a further 25 years, so I was pleased that we were able to allocate £450,000 from our capital fund, with further funding coming from Sport England that helped make the scheme viable”.
Cllr Robert Excell, whose Executive Lead portfolio includes sport, said: “Swimming is an extremely healthy activity. It is important we as a council do what we can to support local facilities such as the pool at Plainmoor which is so well used by the local community and provides an excellent facility for people to learn to swim and take regular exercise.”
Torbay Council and the pool’s management committee will continue to keep in close contact to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum whilst the scheme is in progress.
“Robert Margetts, Chairman of Swim Torquay, is delighted that Torbay Council and Sport England are giving a new lease of life to the pool, so vital for so many of the population of Torbay to enable them to learn to swim and continue with a healthy life style. The pool has been open for 25 years and showing its age so when updated we hope that our patrons both old and will see a brighter pool with a much more up to date ambience. We look forward to welcoming existing customers and many new users back to the pool in the autumn”
