Tunstall Pool campaigners float idea of trust to prevent closure

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save an historic swimming pool from closure are urging council officials to explore handing over the running of the baths to a charitable trust.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has proposed shutting Tunstall Pool as part of the �36 million of savings it needs to find for this coming year's budget.

But the Amateur Swimming Association is understood to be interested in investing money in the popular facility and also getting involved in a trust.

This cash could be combined with other grants to help meet the estimated �360,000 cost of maintenance work needed.

Now families face a race against time to convince the local authority to give it a reprieve. The decision will be made at a full council meeting on Thursday.

Richard Hawthorne, from Tunstall, is one of thousands of people hoping to save the Grade II-listed Victorian pool, which dates back to 1888.

The 39-year-old, who is vice-chairman of Bankeyfield Residents' Association, said: "The idea of the trust is for the Amateur Swimming Association to help run the pool, although it wouldn't be the owner.

"Even if the council just looked at putting up the charges by �1, it would stop the pool from making a loss.

"It's that popular. But the council just seems determined to shut the place."

Yesterday, campaigners handed over a 2,564-signature petition to Stoke-on-Trent North MP Joan Walley, who has been championing efforts to keep the pool open. She will now pass it on to the council.

She said she felt frustrated that the local authority hadn't drawn up a business plan or applied for other money from places like the Heritage Lottery Fund.

She added: "My fear is if they close or mothball the pool, we are going to have an empty building put to no use. We need to have breathing space to come up with an alternative plan.

"It's one of the oldest Victorian swimming pools and it should be a treasure. I do feel passionate about it."

Ms Walley also highlighted the vital role Tunstall Pool is playing in encouraging health and fitness in an area blighted by higher than average heart disease, diabetes and obesity rates.

Paula Stanyer, aged 32, from Sandyford, co-ordinated the petition and says losing the baths would be devastating.

She said: "My concern is for the children. Hundreds of them use it for swimming lessons. My little boy Charlie, who is four, goes there three times a week.

"The pool is exactly the right size for him to learn to swim and he loves it.

"It's very easy to cut and shut things, but what happens to the community? Where are the poor old folk that use this pool going to swim in future?

"Swimming can also be fantastic exercise. Why aren't they encouraging people to go there, rather than depriving a deprived community?"

Carol Johnson, from Tunstall, is also hoping the local authority will have a change of heart.

She said: "All of my four children have learned to swim at Tunstall Pool. My grandson has also learned to swim there.

"It's the very last Victorian swimming pool in the UK that's still working properly. It would be so sad to see it close."

Families are now planning a 'swim and protest' event at Tunstall Pool on Tuesday. It will start at 1.30pm.

The city council has maintained it would cost too much to keep Tunstall Pool open and cover the maintenance bill.

But campaigners are now demanding to see a breakdown of these figures.

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