42-47 COMMUNITY POOLS:SPN Master pages 12/9/08 22:31 Page 5
spnfeature
THIS: The Highworth pool at perhaps its lowest point - with potential but no funds
“I HAVE LIVED IN
MIDDLE: A photograph taken from the same position which shows the stylish new indoor facility
THE TOWN FOR
BOTTOM: Swimmers now have a new pool with heated poolside, under water lighting and 3m
high-diving platform as well as a 1m springboard 22 YEARS AND
HAVE SEEN THE
AFFECTION FOR
THE POOL AS
WELL AS THE
EFFORTS TO SEE
IT RESTORED”
The money started to roll in and support
came from a local charitable trust and an
application went in to Sport England.
“We were led to believe we would be
successful,“ remembers Phil Baker. ”But
we fell at the last hurdle and we were told
the pool cover was too expensive.
“The efforts had to wait until 2004
when the Amateur Swimming Association
took over responsibilities for capital funds.
“The full story is a complex one and
included some fairly high level
interventions but after another two years
of extremely difficult negotiations we
got there and could start looking at
what we wanted.”
Phil said the trustees started to trawl for
a supplier for the roof and approached
three companies.
“We went for Arqualand who went to a
great deal of trouble to find out exactly
what we wanted and put a lot of their own
ideas into it. They came up with the right
sort of price and the whole process once
we had the funds has been painless and
very rewarding.”
Cold pool water had disappointingly
scuppered the grand opening of the
complex.
Organisers were forced to cancel the
long-awaited return of the pool at
Highworth Recreation Centre for health and
safety reasons after the temperature of the
water dropped by 6°C overnight. The
problem was a sticking valve, which controls
the water temperature.
The temperature of the pool, which is
supposed to be 28°C had dropped to
22°C overnight.
However, it was soon business as usual
for the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Phil Baker, said: “It was very
disappointing at the time, but we’re now
relieved that the problem’s been solved
and we’re looking forward to giving the
people of Highworth an extremely
positive experience.”
The centre is a joint venture between
Swindon Council and the centre’s
management committee, in association
with Highworth Town Council.
While the pool, the community hall and
the gym are owned by the Highworth
Visit our website at www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk
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OCTOBER 08 swimming pool news 45
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