Southern Local Authority Endorses Increased Contribution for Regional Swimming Pool

A southern local authority has endorsed an increase in financial contributions for a regional swimming pool. The Southern Swimming Pool board had sought this 0.1p rise, which will bring the total contribution from Castletown Commissioners’ rates to 6.2p, representing the highest permissible amount. At its recent meeting, the authority approved the additional £265, thereby increasing its overall contribution to £16,452.44. This funding aims to address a deficit at the facility, which faced potential closure in January of the previous year. The pool board had previously communicated with all southern local authorities, seeking the increase to “offset” the cessation of additional treasury funding for energy expenses, which concluded in February. This decision comes after the Department of Education, Sports and Culture (Desc) had recommended closing the pool earlier this year due to funding issues, prior to the endorsement of a “survival plan” for the facility. Funding for the southern facility is provided through contributions from the local authorities of Castletown, Port Erin, Port St Mary, Rushen, Arbory, and Malew. The island’s regional pools, managed by local authorities in the north, south, and west, receive an annual government subvention of approximately £1.7m for their upkeep. Beth Cannan, Chairwoman of Castletown Commissioners, stated that the facility serves as an “asset” to the south of the island. She added that the authority was “happy” to provide the funds, emphasizing its “importance” in maintaining the pool’s operation for the community. “I think we need a pool in the south, I think we need to encourage it to stay and we need to do our best for a new pool in the future with the new school”, Cannan further commented. Education, Sport and Culture Minister Daphne Caine announced in June that proposals for a new swimming pool in the island’s south would advance once the replacement for Castle Rushen is constructed. Additional reporting was provided by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.