Sheffield pool and school reach compromise over parking

King Edwards swimming pool is operated by a Trust on lease from Sheffield Council.

Visitors to the pool have always had access to King Edwards school car park, which has been vital to the pool’s business due to parking restrictions on surrounding roads.

But the school is now installing gates and access controls to improve safeguarding after the open access of the school site was raised during a recent inspection.

The gates would have stopped pool visitors and the council has been in discussion for 18 months to agree a solution.

In a report, officers say: "The school is proposing an access control system on the gates and would provide the pool with access that could be issued to families booked onto swimming lessons.

"The school has now been out to tender for the works and is looking to appoint a contractor at a price of £160,980.

"Approval is sought to make a contribution of £102.5k towards the cost of the work in recognition of the fact that limiting access to the site was an issue that the authority had previously tried to address and a condition of any funding would secure continued public access to the swimming pool."

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