Champagne bottles were cracked open in Burnham on Tuesday evening (April 8th) as delighted councillors led the celebrations to mark the unveiling of new bosses to run the town’s swimming pool.
Triathlon champion Sara-Jane Cox and her husband Mark Conklin were named earlier in the day as the new lease holders of the closure-threatened pool following six months of uncertainty.
Over 250 residents crowded into the Princess Hall to hear how the couple intend to transform the pool into a swimming and sports academy.
Among the many questions asked was how long the pool would close for refurbishment.
Mr Conklin said the facility would shut for 4-6 weeks soon after he and Sara take over the property on June 2nd while the work is carried out. “We want it to re-open again by the summer holidays,” he added.
Duncan McGinty, Leader of Sedgemoor District Council, confirmed that the new bosses have been awarded a 99 year-lease which includes a clause requiring a 20 year commitment for the property to remain a swimming pool. It was also confirmed that the pool’s car park would continue to be owned and run by Sedgemoor and that nearby tennis courts have not been included in the lease.
Mr Conklin said he and Sara are “seriously considering” developing the pool’s courtyard which currently features a padding pool and grass area. “We may look to introduce therapy pools and rooms there if planners approve such a scheme,” he said.
Asked whether he and Sara are expecting to quickly turn around the pool’s fortunes, he said: “We’re not expecting to quickly turn it around from its current loss-making state. We don’t expect to see a fast turnaround. We want to give something back to the community and understand that there’s no guarantee we’ll make money here. The key to the pool’s future success is working out how to convert the 7,000 people who signed the petition to come to the pool and regularly use it.”
He added that the pool’s facilities would also be boosted by the addition of a coffee shop and sports retail store selling sports clothing and kit, which would generate revenue towards the current £117.50 per hour cost of running the pool. Last year, it incurred an overall loss of £299,434.
In addition to swimming, the pool will become a centre for triathlons, running, cycling and fitness. It will include a Health and Wellness Centre for physiotherapy, massage, and nutritional advice.
Burnham Deputy Mayor Cllr Neville Jones, who was one of the members on the task group which picked Sara and Mark to take over the pool, said: “It gives me great satisfaction to see Sara doing this, having known her for many years. They will both make a great success of it.”
Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Tessa Munt, who was also at Tuesday’s public meeting, welcomed the announcement, saying it was the “right result for Burnham.”
RELATED LINKS:
Official ‘Save Our Swimming Pool’ website
Meet the couple who have saved Burnham pool
Hopes high as Burnham pool’s D-Day arrives
Council confirms that multiple bidders interested in pool
Burnham pool is top of Daily Telegraph list of UK threatened pools
Five groups show interest in taking over pool
Hundreds sign online swimming pool petition
Pool’s lease is advertised in bid to find new owner
Talks held on possible community bid for Burnham pool
‘Promising progress’ made in search for new pool owner
Liberal Democrats give Burnham pool campaigners a boost
MP meets council bosses in fight to save Burnham pool
Series of public meetings set up to discuss pool progress
Hopes of a last-minute reprieve for pool are dashed
Housing scheme was considered for pool site in 2006
Burnham vicar collects 300 signatures in support of pool
Angry swimmers hold protest outside Burnham pool
Pool campaigners demand answers on running costs
Huge turnout at packed swimming pool public meeting
Campaign group meets MP to discuss future of pool
Public meeting set to be held on future of pool
Hundreds sign petition to save Burnham swimming pool
‘We’ll fight closure of Burnham swimming pool’ vow campaigners
Burnham swimming pool ‘may permanently close by April 2008’
