Community share scheme launching to raise funds for Wem swimming pool

The Friends of Wem Pool hope to raise the funds to allow work to be carried out on building a new gym and viewing area at Wem Swimming and Lifestyle Centre this year.

The group has already raised £95,000 towards the project, which it hopes will increase the amount of people using the pool.

The share scheme will be officially launched at this year's Wem Carnival on September 2 where the group will have a table outside the pool.

A statement on behalf of the group said: "The Wem pool community share gives you an opportunity to be involved in the cost of building a new gym for the swimming pool complex. This will be part of a wider refurbishment including new changing rooms and an exercise studio to bring the centre up to modern standards.

"Community shares cannot be traded so that £1 remains £1. However, it does enable people to contribute to our exciting project, to create something for the benefit of all of us and something that people can personally use.

"And people can redeem their shares at some time in the future if they need to."

At a council meeting in December Wem Town Council agreed to allocate up to £40,000 to part-fund the gym extension.

The funding from the council will only be available for use once sufficient cash has been raised to cover the whole project.

The friends’ group was set up in 2006 when the former North Shropshire District Council decided there was no future in the pool and it would be closed.

Since 2015, when Teme Leisure stepped back from its management, it has been running the pool.

The pool recently closed for two weeks for major infrastructure works, which included installing new filters and a chemical dosing unit.

In addition, the pool hall was also redecorated and a viewing panel installed.

For more information about the community share offer e-mail Malcolm Adkins at mal10@me.com or call 01939 235559.

Alternatively, anyone wishing to make a donation to the project can send a cheque made payable to Friends of Wem Swimming Centre to Mr C Mellings, Wem Swimming & Lifestyle Centre, Bowensfield, Wem, Shropshire, SY4 5AP.

The closing date for the community share scheme is November 30.