Swimming in cash
Yesterday government announced funding for swimming pools around the country. Today Somerset Council have confirmed that they will receive £211,208. This is from the government’s Swimming Pool Support Fund (Phase 1).
The funding is being provided to help swimming pool operators with increased costs. Largely this is a combination of of utility bills and swimming pool chemicals.
The funds have been provided to support five swimming pools across the Somerset Council area:
- Frome Leisure Centre,
- Shepton Mallet Lido,
- Wells Leisure Centre,
- Brean Splash and
- Burnham-on-Sea Swim and Sports Academy.
Somerset Council has also submitted an application to Phase 2 of the Swimming Pool Support Fund. This is to provide grant funding for capital investments to help swimming pools become more energy efficient. The outcome of that application is expected to be revealed in the new year.
Speaking after the grant was awarded, Cllr Federica Smith-Roberts told us: “We are delighted to have received funding from Phase 1 of the Swimming Pool Support Fund. These funds will provide welcome support to the operators of these five sites at what is a financially challenging time for swimming pool operators and will support them to continue to provide public swimming, positively contributing to residents’ health and wellbeing as well as providing a place for local school children to learn to swim.”