Ellesmere Swimming Pool is saved by town college

The community pool, which was built more than 40 years ago, sits on the site of Ellesmere Primary School and is managed and maintained by the school.

In May last year a consultation was launched to see if any groups or organisations could take over the venue, which costs about £80,000 a year to run.

School bosses say the pool needs a substantial investment to bring it up to modern day standards.

Funding that the school receives from central government towards the running of the pool is also being greatly reduced over the next two years, when it will end completely – meaning the school will also have to find additional funds from existing budgets.

As a result the school started exploring possible alternative options for the future running of the pool.

Now Ellesmere College has stepped forward and announced it will be making a contribution towards the pool's running and maintenance costs in return for being able to use it outside of the primary school hours.

This means the pool will remain protected for both Ellesmere primary swimming activities and other local schools.

Officials at Ellesmere College have said they do not anticipate there being any significant changes in the way it is run and the current outside bodies hiring the pool will continue to do so.

Brendan Wignall, headmaster of Ellesmere College, said: "I am delighted that we have been able to work with the primary school in this way to protect the future of a valuable town asset.

"A number of individuals at the college are very active in supporting efforts to save the town library, so it is nice to have one success under our belt and hopefully this will inspire us to greater success in the future in protecting the assets of Ellesmere."

Andrew Everett, headteacher at Ellesmere Primary School, said: "We looked at a range of possibilities for a while and only one viable option came forward.

"We are very pleased Ellesmere College will be supporting the pool and it will now be able to stay open for the school and community for years to come."

Ellesmere swimming pool is currently used by pupils from Ellesmere Primary, Criftins Primary and Cockshutt Primary for curriculum-based swimming lessons.

Making Waves Swim School also offer children's swimming lessons at the pool.

They operate on a Sunday from 9am until noon, offering lessons which range from adult and baby to a pre-competitive squad.

Another previously under-threat swimming pool in north Shropshire is going from 'strength to strength' after being taken over.

Wem Swimming and Lifestyle Centre Ltd (WSLC) started managing Wem pool from January 2015.

WSLC is a charity and trustees are members of the local community who have worked tirelessly to achieve the aim to manage the pool and gym.

They are currently working on a new viewing area and gym expansion.