Reopening hope for Wem Swimming Pool

A north Shropshire swimming pool could reopen early next month after councillors agreed to strike a deal with a new operator.

Wem Swimming Pool has been shut since May 9 when Wem Swimming Centre Ltd, the company which used to run it, was declared insolvent.

Today Wem Town Council confirmed that it hoped to strike a deal with its preferred operator Teme Leisure based on the budget proposals the firm had put forward.

It follows a behind-closed-doors meeting held in Wem last night.

Wem mayor Councillor Mandy Meakin said: "We passed a resolution that we would accept Teme Leisure's offer on the budget they gave us.

"We have got to speak to Teme Leisure. Nothing has been finalised yet.

"They put forward an estimate of what they think they would need the council to subsidise them and we have got to discuss that with them but councillors were in full agreement we would accept that if it doesn't change."

Subsidise

She said it was "more or less" the same as what the council was previously paying to subsidise the pool.

Glynis Sheppard, of Shrewsbury, had stepped in to run the pool in 2005 after it had been closed due to district council cuts.

But when she put the operating company up for sale for £65,000 last year, Wem Town Council, the landlords, terminated her lease before she was able to sell it.

Many customers had paid in advance for children's swimming lessons and Miss Sheppard offered those affected the chance to transfer any outstanding lessons to other pools in Shropshire where her other separate company Swim With Style Ltd operates.

The former mayor of Wem, Doug Cooley said the situation could not have been handled differently, insisting the future of the pool was of paramount importance.

Councillor Meakin added it is hoped the pool will reopen to the public again early next month.

"It was proposed for the first, but I think it is a little bit tight to get it open for July 1, but it will be the first weeks of July," she said.

Nobody from Teme Leisure was available to comment this morning.

By Suzanne Roberts