Delighted campaigners fighting to save Burnham-On-Sea’s closure-threatened swimming pool are celebrating today after the district council announced on Tuesday morning (April 8th) that it had found new owners to take it over.
Triathlon champion Sara-Jane Cox and her husband Mark Conklin (pictured below) have been named as the new lease holders of the pool following six months of uncertainty about the pool’s future.
The couple announced that they intend to transform the pool into a new swimming and sports academy.
International sports star Sara has returned from America with her husband to save the pool in which she first learnt to swim. Read more about the couple here.
The pair admitted on Tuesday that with the pool’s annual defecit running at a third of a million pounds, they have a “gigantic challenge” ahead of them.
Delighted Tom Ashton, Chairman of Burnham’s Save Our Swim (SOS) group, hailed the news as “absolutely fantastic”.
He added: “We are all utterly delighted and thank everyone who supported us, including Burnham-On-Sea.com and the local press.”
“This has been the biggest and best campaign in Burnham ever and clearly shows people power can win!”
Sara is the daughter of David and Ann Cox, who run the Laburnum House hotel on the outskirts of Burnham-On-Sea, and was raised in the town.
The couple have signed a 99-year lease that ensures the site remains a pool for a mininum of 20 years.
The lease was signed by Sedgemoor District Council leader Cllr Duncan McGinty and Chief Executive Kerry Rickard on Tuesday, pictured above with Cllr Neville Jones of the task group set up to find a new lease holder.
Tuesday’s announcement came after a busy six months of activity behind the scenes to save the pool. Leader of Sedgemoor District Council, Councillor Duncan McGinty, said: “We are thrilled that all the hard work by many people over the past four months has paid off. I am sure that the plans that the new leaseholders have for the building are extremely exciting and will help put Burnham-on-Sea on the sporting map.”
Burnham MP David Heathcoat-Amory expressed his delight at hearing the news on Tuesday lunchtime. Mr Heathcoat-Amory, who worked alongside councillors and campaigners on the campaign to save the pool, said: “I am delighted that the pool will remain open.”
“It is a facility that can be used by residents and tourists of all age groups. I have been involved in the campaign to secure its future because I realise how important it is to Burnham and the surrounding areas.”
Our photos show the scenes at the press conference on Tuesday lunchtime, when (top) Burnham Swimming Club’s Pat Pussill and SOS Chairman Tom Ashton celenbrated with Mark and Sara; the triumphant scenes in the Community Hall; and (bottom) Cllr Ann Bown and Teresa Harvey with Mark and Sara
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’
