SOS campaign gears up with over 5,000 signatures (From Burnham & Highbridge Weekly News)

SOS campaign gears up with over 5,000 signatures

4:12pm Tuesday 1st January 2008

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"UNBELIEVABLE" is how two of the most prominent figures in the Save Our Swimming pool (SOS) committee have described the response to the Weekly News-supported campaign over the last week.

Last Wednesday the Weekly News started its own version of the SOS campaign after Sedgemoor District Council announced it was considering closing Burnham pool with effect from March 31, 2008.

Pam Pusill from the group said she has counted at least 5,000 signatures with many more to come, and holidaymakers from as far as Germany have signed their name to the cause.

Chairman and founder of the SOS campaign Tom Ashton said the reaction from people in the town and beyond, has been phenomenal with vast amounts of campaigners already sending out letters of support to district councillors.

Tom said: "People have been so supportive and a lot of local councillors have contacted me to try and help save the pool - even councillors at Sedgemoor have responded.

"They have told me that there has been more correspondence on this than any other council issue, ever."

SOS secretary and chairman of the Burnham disabled swimmer's club John Lovett added: "I have never known such strong feeling, and I have been involved with the pool for over 40 years.

"We aren't holding our breath for success but the least we are asking for is a stay of execution to help find suitable alternative arrangements."

One disabled campaigner, Norma Skeen, sent an email to 40 district councillors explaining why the swimming pool is so important to her and her disabled husband, Malcolm.

She wrote: "I have been a member of the disabled swimming club for 17 years, all the members are like one big family - to lose that support would be devastating.

"There is talk of regeneration in Burnham - we should have the pool at the centre of the scheme.

"It has been mentioned a loss of £250,000, well how much do you put on the lives of future generations if there is nowhere for them to swim with safety - PLEASE, PLEASE reconsider and save our pool."

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