Pool rescue campaign meeting sees huge show of support (From Burnham & Highbridge Weekly News)

Pool rescue campaign meeting sees huge show of support

8:27pm Friday 21st December 2007

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A HUGE display of public support was shown at a meeting in Burnham last week (Thursday) with passionate appeals to save the seemingly-condemned town swimming pool.

Around 200 people turned out to hear from "Save our Swimming pool" campaign group founder and chairman Tom Ashton and others on the committee at the Lakeside Holiday Park.

Members of the public filled the resort's bar area to voice their feelings on the death sentence hanging over the facility, and to come up with suggestions as to how the pool could be saved.

Also in attendance on the night showing their support were town council members Cllr Joe Leach, Cllr Peter Clayton, Cllr Arthur Thorogood, and town mayor Cllr Pauline Pollard.

"Save our Swimming pool" committee members Jon Lovett, Mike Turco, Barbara Lovett, Pat Pusill, Tom Ashton and well-known triathletes Alan Pendleton and Arthur Gilbert also attended.

Tom began the meeting by thanking people for coming despite the freezing weather, and said the turnout could have been double had the event not clashed with various Christmas parties and other activities taking place.

He said: "The fact that so many people came along shows the strength of feeling in the town and it really says something when there could have been 400 people there.

"Burnham swimming pool has become the number one priority for businesses and town organisations, and it is the biggest talking point we have seen for 20 years."

Chairman of the Sedgemoor Tourist Association Bob Nicholson also spoke out. He commented: "We fought for this pool 30 to 40 years ago and we aren't prepared to give up on it that easily."

Alex Turco, chairman of Burnham and Highbridge Chamber of Trade, spoke of the important role the pool plays in bringing tourism to the area, and urged people to email every single councillor in Sedgemoor.

Town mayor, Cllr Pauline Pollard, said: "We need somebody with a background in pool maintenance to come in and work out exactly what is needed to rescue this facility."

Students from King Alfred School in Highbridge who regularly use the pool for swimming lessons have also be campaigning with a petition containing 725 signatures presented on the night.

School council representative Will Tasker said: "It has taken just three days to get this many signatures - we all learned to swim at the pool and we don't want to see future generations deprived."

Cllr Peter Clayton showed support by admitting he would resign his position as councillor and step down from the local Conservatives Party if the pool closure does go ahead.

He said: "We may need a few rebels to swing the vote, but that is how far I am prepared to go to save the pool."

Show your support and help save Burnham swimming pool by signing the Weekly News petition today, and sending it to Save Our Swimming Pool, Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News, Royal Clarence House, York Buildings, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 3AT.

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