Clubs fear closure over Shrewsbury swimming pool plans

Shrewsbury Canoe Club has claimed proposals to redesign the Quarry Swimming and Fitness Centre to have just two pools rather than the current four would have a "disastrous"effect on the group.

Special needs swimming group Shropshire Sharks has also claimed they could have difficulties finding pool time for their 30 members.

It comes after plans for the centre were revealed by George Candler, Shropshire Council's director of commissioning, at a meeting of Severn Loop Local Joint Committee.

Mr Candler told the meeting that there was "more water provision than there is demand" as he spoke about plans to replace the main 33 metre six-lane pool with a 25 metre pool which would be eight lanes wide. There would also be one learner pool measuring 10 metres by 17 metres, he said.

Dylan Tomlinson of Shrewsbury Canoe Club said the proposed downsizing of the pools would have a huge impact on his group's 150 members.

He said: "The plans to reduce the size of the pool and the number of pools would seriously affect our ability to secure sessions. It would make it very difficult for us and we could be forced out. At the moment we have storage for our kayaks and we are able to practice in winter months.

Julie Crumpton, chairman of Shropshire Sharks which uses the pool on Thursdays, said: "It's very difficult because how do we know that we are going to be able to get an evening if the number of pools are halved? We don't know if this is going to mean we can't carry on there.

"Our members know when their night of swimming is and any change to that would cause huge disruption and confusion for them."

Bernard Wills, from The Quarry Swimming and Fitness Forum, said: "What needs to be done and what has been agreed to be done is more investigation.

"What hasn't been taken into account is the number of groups and the different activities."