Shrewsbury's Quarry swimming centre could lose half its pools
Shrewsbury's only public swimming baths could lose half its pools in a £7 million overhaul, the council's lead officer on the project has said.
The number of pools at the Quarry Swimming and Fitness Centre could reduce from four to two, according to usage data collected by Shropshire Council.
And its 33m six-lane Quarry pool – one of the biggest in the county – could be replaced by one 25m long and eight lanes wide.
"There is more water provision than there is demand," George Candler, the authority's director of commissioning, told a meeting of the Severn Loop Joint Committee last night.
The future model for refurbishing, rebuilding or relocating the pool was for a 25m eight-lane pool and a learner pool of 10m by 17m, he said.
The centre has four swimming pools, plus an outdoor paddling pool in the summer.
Mr Candler told the meeting at the Guildhall in Frankwell the council had collected usage data that showed only two pools were needed.
He said: "What that data is telling us is there is more water provision than there is demand.
"That's people using the pool, whether it's recreationally or as part of clubs, based on demand into the future is that it will be a 25-metre eight-lane pool.
"Hopefully this would have a floating floor so we can vary the depth depending on the activity taking place.
"And there would be a second learner pool measuring 10 metres by 17 metres.
"And probably new fitness provision, so new gym equipment. That's based on the current data, but we are still gathering more information to put together business cases for all options by December."
He added: "We hope to begin a three-month consultation in January and we will come back to this meeting and share our findings and take more questions.
"The results of that consultation will form a report to go back to cabinet in April or May of next year.
"In that cabinet paper there will be a recommendation of what should happen next."
Members of the public at the meeting raised concerns over how the two pools would accommodate the wide range of groups who use the centre.
Resident groups include Shrewsbury Canoe Club, Shropshire Sharks, Shrewsbury Sub Aqua Club and Shrewsbury Amateur and Masters Swimming Clubs.
A member of Shrewsbury Canoe Club said they struggled to get a slot at the centre.
Mr Candler said: "What we needed to understand is how would we configure all the different activities into two pools and that's part of the work that is ongoing."
