Campaign to save Whaley Bridge pool heartened by £10,000 cash gift

It comes days after campaign group Save Whaley Pool’s request to lease the pool and run it under a charity structure was turned down by Derbyshire County Council.

Whaley Bridge Primary School say the pool - which is owned by the council - is no longer viable and they cannot keep it running anymore.

After receiving the new cash injection campaigners are hopeful the council will reconsider their proposal.

They have now updated their original business plan for the council - with a plan to upgrade its pump room allowing them to provide more swimming sessions and generate a sustainable income.

Save Whaley Pool say there is ‘massive support’ within the community for their plan to keep it running.

However they say the clock is ticking and they need a decision from the council in order to bid for contracts to provide swimming lessons for schools in the area.

Campaigner Katie Tyreman said she hoped the council would reconsider as the pool was ‘a lovely little community facility’.

She said: “The benefits for the community would be incredible.

“If we upgraded the pump room that would allow us to open during weekends and offer greater capacity.

“There would be potential for public swims, mother and toddler classes or aqua fitness classes.

“At the moment people have to travel to New Mills or Buxton and not everyone is able to travel that far.”

Katie said Save Whaley Pool hoped to establish themselves as a charity to run the pool - offering swimming lessons for local schools and leasing it for a low rent from the council.

Should the council grant campaigners’ wishes they plan to upgrade the 1970s-built pool’s showers and changing rooms.

A spokesperson for Derbyshire County Council said: “We understand the group’s funding situation has recently changed.

“And in light of this council officers and elected members will be meeting together later this month to review the information provided by the group and reconsider the issues and options."