Call to keep up the fight for Shrewsbury's Quarry swimming pool
The fight to keep swimming facilities in Shrewsbury town centre must continue, campaigners have said.
Bernard Wills, leader of the Quarry Swimming and Fitness Forum, made the plea as the group continues to work on a business plan for future provision of swimming facilities in the town.
The plea comes following the publication of Shropshire Council's draft sports facilities strategy, which recommends the closure of the Quarry pool.
Earlier this year, Shropshire Council approved a plan to close the Quarry Swimming and Fitness Centre and to build a new pool at Shrewsbury Sports Village in Sundorne.
A 12-month extension, however, has been given to groups wanting to keep the pool open.
They have a year to come up with alternative funding and management plans to keep the pool in the town centre.
Mr Wills said: "We are continuing to work on the document and the plan with both ourselves and in conjunction with Shrewsbury Town Council and Shrewsbury Business Improvement District. We have a 12-month period to draw our plans up and we are working on it now, we are keeping our fight to keep the pool in town.
"But as we have always said people need to keep writing to their councillors and MPs about it."
Mr Will said: "The fight needs to be kept alive.
"The pool gets over 300,000 visits a year, just think what could happen if it was brought up to modern standards.
"We won't rush the report, we want to get it right. We want to put the right report forward that has looked at everything carefully.
"The thought is, what would end up there? If they want to get rid of the Quarry Pool what would be there instead? It is a sports centre already there – you have the parkrun, the pool, people come there for sports.
"It needs to be a lifetime solution, not just a short-term fix."
For more information on the campaign search for Quarry Swimming and Fitness Forum on Facebook
