Campaign to save the pool begins (From Burnham & Highbridge Weekly News)

Campaign to save the pool begins

11:36am Saturday 8th December 2007

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CAMPAIGNERS fighting against the impending closure of Burnham pool have spoken of their fears for the many groups that regularly use the facility.

Sedgemoor District Council revealed this week in a meeting of the Executive that the swimming pool was one of a number of planned cutbacks in cost cutting measures.

The authority has been left with a £1.8million gap to plug and the Burnham leisure resource has been identified as one of the key means to fill this gap with closure set to save over £800,000.

However residents say they are not prepared to give up the pool without a fight, citing the various clubs and schools in the area that pay weekly, and in some cases, daily visits.

Burnham woman and daily user Eileen Lawson said: "There is also a big group of disabled swimmers who use the pool on a Wednesday morning and they are now under threat as a result.

"Then you have all the schools and groups of youngster using it on a regular basis - what will happen to them? The news has hit us all really hard and we will be fighting to keep it."

Burnham residential home owner and community volunteer has set up a protest group known as 'Save our Swimming pool' (SOS) after a survey which revealed businesses in the town see the loss of the pool as their third greatest concern.

Cllr Ann Bown, portfolio holder for leisure, culture and sport at the district council, said: "We realise that this is a very emotive subject and it has been a very difficult decision for the Council to even suggest closure, but its position as a non-statutory service makes it an option that needs to be considered.

"However, we are actively seeking ways to keep the pool open."

Concerned residents have started a petition, which can be found at the swimming pool in Berrow Road.

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