Funding Shortfalls Lead to Closure of Two East Hertfordshire Swimming Pools

Financial difficulties are set to cause the closure of two swimming facilities within a county. Fanshawe Pool and Gym, located in Ware, and Leventhorpe Pool, situated in Sawbridgeworth, both within East Hertfordshire, are scheduled to cease operations on 22 December. These aquatic centers, which are the property of Chauncy School and Leventhorpe School respectively, have been managed by Everyone Active under an arrangement with East Herts District Council. According to a collaborative statement, the choice was made because financial support from the Department for Education is concluding at the end of the current academic year. Sarah Hopewell, a Green Party councillor and the executive member for wellbeing at the council, informed the Local Democracy Reporting Service that even with £120,000 in government funds allocated for school swimming lessons, the facilities were operating at a “small loss”. A combined declaration issued by the schools, the district and county councils, and Everyone Active indicated their “willingness to revisit” the circumstances should “significant funding” materialize. Rhys Tom, who serves as the team manager for Ware Swimming Club, a club that utilizes Fanshawe pool, stated that its 250 members are now “homeless”. “This is our only home. This is the only place we swim,” he commented. He added, “We do 14 hours a week here, all in the evenings, all run by volunteer coaches giving up their own time.” Mr. Tom mentioned that the club initiated an online petition, which has garnered over 5,000 signatures. Josh Dean, the Labour Member of Parliament for Hertford and Stortford, remarked, “I completely acknowledge why people are concerned.” He continued, “We’ve had a number of emails into my office, and we’ve been trying to work collaboratively with the local authority, with residents, with the swimming club at Fanshawe.” Nevertheless, he noted that “real funding challenges” existed throughout public finances and that “there are no easy solutions”. During a parliamentary session, Dean inquired with the Department for Education about the availability of funding for schools whose financial support for leisure facilities had ceased. Janet Daby, the minister for children and families, replied that “exceptional circumstances” funding might be accessible for certain school leisure facilities during the 2025/26 period. For updates on Beds, Herts and Bucks news, follow on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.