Rally in campaign to keep Shrewsbury swimming pool at Quarry

Supporters of the pool will march from the top of Pride Hill to the Quarry park.

Organisers say they want to send out a message to officials at Shropshire Council and have urged as many people as possible to take part.

The rally, which is being coordinated by members of the Quarry Swimming and Fitness Forum, will take place on October 17.

A five-month consultation period is currently being held by Shropshire Council to give people the chance to comment on seven options for the pool's future.

They include spending £2.3 million refurbishing the existing pool, £12.8m carrying out a wider renovation or £10.9m building a new pool on the current site.

Other proposals include building a £10.6m pool at Clayton Way, Oxon, a £10.9m centre off Ellesmere Road opposite Battlefield Enterprise Park or a £9m pool at Shrewsbury Sports Village.

A seventh option would see the pool built at Shrewsbury College on London Road.

Bernard Wills, chairman of the forum, encouraged people who want Shrewsbury's swimming pool to remain in the town centre to use the rally as a way of showing their support. He said: "Our slogan is 'join the march to keep the pool in the town centre'.

"We want people to show the council that we care about it so we need as many people as possible to join and demonstrate that the people of Shrewsbury want the pool to stay in the town.

"It will be an orderly and well marshalled rally but it is a great chance for people to show their support if they are concerned that the pool may be moved from the town centre.

"The forum has concerns about a number of implications with any move."

A pool has been based at the current Quarry site since the 19th century. More than 120 people attended a public meeting organised by the Quarry forum last month and the majority backed plans to keep the pool where it isat its current site.