2:30pm Tuesday 28th July 2009
By James Beal
THE Splash swimming pool in Bridgwater has been given a tiny glimmer of hope after a plan was proposed to give it a stay of execution.
Sedgemoor District Council's executive committee voted last Monday to close the pool on August 30 but the opposition LibDem and Labour councillors have 'called in' the decision - meaning it will now go before a scrutiny committee for further discussion.
And Joe Leach, leader of the LibDems on Sedgemoor District Council, said: “What the LibDems are proposing is to keep the pool open until March to allow time to find a way for the community to fund the running of the pool until a new one is built.”
Monday's heated meeting saw the executive vote through the facility's early closure, despite coming under fire from disgruntled pool users who want the Splash to stay open.
Duncan McGinty, council leader, said the authority could not afford to keep the Splash open long term.
He told the meeting the money saved from an early closure would be used to help fund a new pool.
But angry pool users, who spoke passionately at the meeting, heckled and jeered councillors as the decision was voted through.
One of the speakers, Angela Tarr told councillors: “I find it incomprehensible that you would close the pool.”
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