Adverts will appear in the press this week inviting bids from companies who want to take on the lease of Burnham-On-Sea’s closure-threatened swimming pool.
Sedgemoor District Council’s ‘Task and Finish’ group has been considering various ways of keeping the pool open in recent weeks – and on legal advice they are placing the advertisements to ensure there is open competition should the council go down the leasing route.
Teresa Harvey, Group Manager of Leisure and Marketing at Sedgemoor District Council, explained to Burnham-On-Sea.com: “The advert will appear in the trade journal Leisure Opportunities and local press during the next few days, with offers being invited up until March 17th, 2008.”
She added: “We’re exploring whether the pool could be offered on a leasehold basis and this advert is legally important for us to ensure that everyone is given a fair opportunity to come forward.”
“A review of the bids will be carried out in March. We don’t have a minimum or predicted figure in mind for how much companies should bid – this is a completely open process where all bids will be considered.”
She added that the decision to place the advertisement should not be considered an indication that the Task and Finish group had not been successful i its discussions with potential new owners of the pool.
“Their work is continuing as well at the same time,” she said.
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