Clubs 'implore' Sheffield Council to help find £360,000 to reopen Ponds Forge

Swimming, diving and water polo teams, including those from both of the city’s universities, worked together on plans for Ponds Forge to reopen following Sheffield City Trust’s decision to keep it closed.

Athletes and coaches gathered outside Sheffield Town Hall earlier this week to deliver these proposals to Sheffield Council and launch their campaign to reopen it. They also delivered copies to members of parliament across the city.

In these letters, signed by Tom Owens, head coach and director of City of Sheffield Diving Club; Pippa Jones, chairwoman of City of Sheffield Diving Club, and John Hewitt, director of City of Sheffield Swimming Squad, said: “This proposal represents a solid alternative plan for the immediate future of Ponds Forge. It presents new information and a fresh perspective which makes strong business and political sense.

“In a reality where Ponds Forge does not open until April, it will be reopening without at least three of its most significant user groups. This is simply a fact, not an over dramatisation.

“It has been cited in the media a number of times in the past few weeks that the users of Ponds Forge will be offered alternative spaces. The time and spaces available are not adequate to support the activities we deliver. We will lose members, we will lose coaches and we will lose our businesses and livelihoods. Sheffield will lose something that is irreplaceable.

“Of course, to the hundreds of members of these clubs directly impacted by this decision, this means everything. Like so many around the country, the lives of these exceptional Sheffield youngsters have been turned on its head. Their dreams, aspirations, routines and physical and mental health, all taken from them through no fault of their own. They are our future Olympic stars, they are our future upstanding members of society, who have been shaped by their experiences in Ponds Forge.

“We implore you to please consider this proposal favourably and respond swiftly with a green light, so that we can move forward together and continue to make Sheffield great.”

They said it will cost £90,000 per month to reopen the diving pit and 50 metre pools, with staffing, maintenance and other necessary costs. This means a total of £540,000 over the period of October to April - which was estimated as the earliest date it could reopen for the public.

The clubs said they will commit around £28,300 per month, or £169,800 for the six-month period, and said this will be increased to £30,000 per month with contributions from members and their families.

Of that, Sheffield Hallam University is also expected to provide £1,500 per month and the University of Sheffield £1,300 per month - both of which are to be confirmed.

They are now campaigning for the other £60,000 per month, £360,000 for the six months, from Sheffield Council and others.

Mr Owens said it was a significant amount of money but a worthwhile investment for the city.

He said it would secure the survival of the clubs, ensure events they support go ahead in the future, save current and future generations of athletes, safeguard Ponds Forge and protect jobs at SCT and the clubs.

Sheffield Council said it would provide up to £15m this financial year to help SCT reopen most of its facilities, which is £10m more than budgeted for. It said it was unable to provide the further £1.5m needed to reopen Ponds Forge in its current format.

Since receiving the club's plans, councillor Mary Lea, cabinet member for culture, parks and leisure at the council, said: "We need some time to review the proposal, which was received this week. We are looking at how we can support the reinstatement of facilities at Ponds Forge and will consider the proposal as part of that work.

“These are complex financial and operational decisions, and we will liaise directly with the aquatics clubs in response to this matter.”

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