New Swimming Pool for Shirehampton? (Paul Harrod)

New Swimming Pool for Shirehampton?

February 10, 2010 9:53 PM

SHIREHAMPTON needs a new swimming pool - and Bristol City Council's ruling Lib Dems have pledged to look at the idea as a manifesto commitment.

More than 500 residents signed a petition for a new pool at the weekend and Paul Harrod, Prospective Lib Dem MP for Bristol North West, who organised the campaign, has welcomed the commitment by the Council leadership to carry out a full feasibility study.

Paul said: "The next swimming pool in north Bristol must be in Shirehampton. This area has lost leisure facilities in the past and the time has come to invest in this part of Bristol. I hope the Council will commit to building a new pool as soon as the funding allows."

Deputy council leader Simon Cook, who is executive member for culture and leisure, said:

"It's quite clear there is strong demand from people in Shirehampton for a new pool and some of us pointed that out to Labour when they took the decision to replace the old Shirehampton pool with a new one some distance away in Henbury.

"Following the impact of the Free Swimming Programme, there is certainly the market for another pool in this area and we will carry out a full feasibility study into that if re-elected in May.

"It could well be that a new pool could be situated in the grounds of the Oasis Academy Brightstowe.

"Swimming pool provision in our city is being transformed. The old buildings required large taxpayer subsidies for every person that used them. The new ones, by being linked to existing gym or sports hall facilities, can run at much lower cost."