THE top swimming training pool in Waltham Forest “is likely” to close next month – to the dismay of campaigners who two years ago thought they had succeeded in saving it.
The 33m pool is used by local teams, including Waltham Forest Swimming Club, nicknamed Gators.
Owners Waltham Forest College planned to close the pool in 2007, which was costing the college tens of thousands of pounds a year to run, until the council struck a temporary deal with Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL) to run it, in the expectation that the college would redevelop the pool.
Despite the deal ending in June, GLL has continued to run the pool on a membership basis at a cost of £1,000 a week.
But now GLL is to stop running the pool for cost reasons, and neither the college, in Forest Road, nor the council have the funds to keep it open.
The news has dismayed the Friends of the Pool (FOTP) campaign group.
FOTP spokesman Mark Tempest siad: “We are very disappointed that the threat of closure has returned.<.p>
“We are calling on the council to reconsider its deal with GLL and to make every effort to keep this wonderful pool open to schools, clubs and individuals – to go on serving the community and keeping it fit.
“We will be asking some hard questions of GLL, and letting the Mayor, Boris Johnson, know what is about to happen right on the doorstep of the Olympics.”
FOTP members believe the pool's users can contribute enough cash to keep it open.
But Cllr Geraldine Reardon, cabinet member for leisure, said: “We do regret that Waltham Forest College need to close the pool, but hope that the friends recognise the efforts that the college and council, along with GLL have made in keeping the pool open for the last two years.
“GLL will help the remaining groups still using the pool to relocate to one of the borough's four swimming pools.”
But that is unlikely to be of much consolation to swimmers as the pool is the only one in Waltham Forest considered to be of Olympic quality.
Waltham Forest College vice principal Peter Glasgow said:“We have been supportive in keeping the pool open providing it doesn't divert us from primary task of teaching and learning.”
The college intends to close the pool at the beginning of September.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel