Campaigners vow to fight to keep Church Stretton's pool

Teme Church Stretton Leisure Centre has been under threat from cuts for some time, but a new leisure strategy revealed by the authority has officially confirmed it is among those that "need to be considered for closure".

Due to the poor condition of the pool, the Shropshire Council report says, there is also less scope for it to be saved by a community group than in the case of the SpArC leisure centre in nearby Bishop's Castle.

But supporters in Church Stretton today said they are undeterred in fighting to keep the pool for public use and claim a small rise in council tax may save it.

Town councillor Mark Morris, who is leading the town's Love Your Leisure Centre campaign, said Church Stretton Town Council is awaiting the results of a town-wide survey asking people what cut-threatened services they could not do without.

The councillor added that it was more important than ever that people make their feelings known about the leisure centre.

He said in the worst case the pool could close, while other leisure centre facilities become only for use by the Church Stretton School next door, and not the general public.

Councillor Morris said: "One of the options we're asking people about is whether they would be prepared to pay more on their council tax.

"There are no exact figures as yet, but it's possible that for about £50 more a year, about £1 a week, we could keep these facilities.

"The trouble with any swimming pool is that it never makes as much money as it costs, they are very expensive things to run."

He said he was concerned busy residents would put off completing the consultation until it was too late, so urged people to make it a priority, with completed forms needing to be in by August 22.

"The pool does get use and I think it would be a real shame if it closed. If it closes we will never get it back.

"We will certainly keep on fighting and I will keep on at the town council about it," he said.

Shropshire Council's new leisure strategy has gone out to public consultation until September 30.

The council says it needs to offload a range of services, including leisures centres, libraries and community centres.

Its leisure document says: "In the south, both SpArC and Church Stretton pools are small, costly to operate, require significant investment, and serve very small communities, so have low throughput.

"Both of these need to be considered for closure.

"The SpArC pool is in better condition and there could be more opportunity to work in partnership with a local organisation to take on the operation of this pool and the other adjacent sports facilities.

"The Church Stretton pool is in a very poor condition, and does not offer a fit for purpose environment in which to learn."