Burnham-On-Sea swimming pool could be sold off at a cut price within the next five years, it has emerged this week.
An option in the lease between the pool’s current owner, Sedgemoor District Council, and new leaseholders Sara-Jane Cox and Mark Conklin (pictured) states that the site in Berrow Road has been valued at around £600,000, although it could be bought by the couple for just £155,000 this year.
A clause in the new leaseholders’ contract gives them the option to buy the pool’s site at any time during the next five years, with the price being recalculated every 12 months.
However, since a covenant was included in the lease to ensure there must be a pool on the site for at least 20 years, it is unlikely that the site could be sold for development before the year 2028 – and Sara-Jane Cox said this week that she and husband Mark have no plans to move away from using the site as a swimming and sports facility.
Sedgemoor District Council’s Teresa Harvey, who led the district council’s task and finish group to save the pool from closure earlier this year, told Burnham-On-Sea.com on Wednesday (May 28th) that the price of £155,000 was calculated by evaluating what the site would be worth in 20 years’ time, discounting at a rate of seven per cent a year.
“The only people that can buy the pool are Mark and Sara-Jane, as the leaseholders, and the option only lasts for five years,” added Teresa Harvey. “The figures were calculated by our valuer before Mark and Sara got involved in taking on the lease.”
RELATED LINKS:
Meet the couple who have saved Burnham pool
Saved! Couple step forward to save 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’
