End of the road for much loved Sheffield swimming pool as council says no to taking it over
End of an era as popular swimming pool, used for generations, looks set to close for good
A much loved Sheffield swimming pool, used by generations in the city, looks set to close for good.
Sheffield Council has today confirmed it is declining to take on the King Edwards swimming pool, on Clarkehouse Road, near Broomhall, after it emerged it would cost £200,000 to re-open it, and another £200,000 a year to run.
It has been closed since May, when the trust which had been running it announced the facility needed major repairs.
King Edward's Swimming Pool Trust then announced it would be closing the pool because of the cost involved, adding it was owned by the council and its future would be in the hands of the local authority.
However, Sheffield Council today confirmed that it will not be taking on responsibility for the operation or funding of the facility.
Sheffield Council said in a statement: “King Edward's Swimming Pool has been a valued local facility for many residents, schools, clubs and swimming lesson customers over many years. The council recognises that this news will be disappointing for those who have used the pool regularly and who have a strong connection to it.
“The council would also like to acknowledge the commitment and dedication of the trustees, staff and volunteers who have worked tirelessly to maintain and operate the facility over many years. Their efforts have provided an important service to local communities and created opportunities for generations of people to learn to swim, develop skills and enjoy the benefits of physical activity.”
They said the pool was operated by an independent charitable trust, and was not part of the council's contracted leisure estate.
The trust had advised that it could no longer operate the facility safely and sustainably and had indicated its intention to surrender its lease and close the charity down.
Officials said they looked into if they could keep it running, but decided taking it would not represent a sustainable or strategic use of public resources, given the condition of the building, the level of investment required, the ongoing operating costs and the number of people who used it, described as two per cent of the city’s pool use.
Alternative arrangements have been identified for school swimming, support has been provided to help clubs relocate, and swimming lesson customers have been signposted to other facilities.
The council says it will take a citywide approach to leisure investment and swimming provision, including considering future opportunities to increase swimming capacity across Sheffield.
It is one of the longest pools in the city, over 30m in length, with shallow water at both ends and a deeper middle section.
The pool dates back to 1936 when it was built for the school, then a grammar school.
The school says replaced an old open-air pool that had been built by Wesley College in Victorian times that had become full of dirty water and covered with slime.
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