Ponds Forge may now reopen to the public before April 2021 following urgent campaign

The announcement was made today but a formal decision will be made during a cabinet meeting on September 23.

It is believed it will now reopen sooner than April 2021 – which was previously said to be the ‘best case scenario’ – but in spite of the announcement, there is currently no updated timescale on when the leisure facility will open its doors to the public.

Council officers said they are working on the details of how much money and how it will work, and a report will be published next week.

Councillor Mary Lea, cabinet member for culture, parks and leisure, said: “I am pleased that these plans will be brought to cabinet later this month.

“We know how important Ponds Forge is to the city’s sporting excellence and our wider communities and the only barrier to having it re-open has been the financial position caused by the pandemic and continued restrictions on gatherings.

“We are facing a constantly evolving situation in dealing with re-opening all of our services and facilities.

“We will be working with local groups that have come forward as discussions have already been ongoing between them and Sheffield International Venues around exactly how much support is needed. However, we feel that if the venue is to be opened it is only right that it should be available for all of the public as well as supporting some of our sports clubs and elite athletes.”

The council gave Sheffield City Trust £15 million to reopen most of its facilities across the city, except for Ponds Forge, last month. This was £10 million more than budgeted for.

At the time it said it would cost a further £1.5 million to reopen Ponds Forge to the public, which it said was too expensive.

A 'best case scenario' date for reopening was estimated to be April 2021, but aquatics clubs based there - some among the best in the country - said they would not survive until then.

Since then, the clubs submitted plans to Sheffield Council and MPs across the city calling for £360,000 support to reopen it for athletes.

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