Campaigners welcome Shrewsbury pool announcement
Campaigners have welcomed the surprise announcement that town centre sites are to be looked at for a new Shrewsbury swimming pool.
Bernard Wills, of the Quarry Forum said comments from Shropshire Council Leader Peter Nutting would be a huge boost to those campaigning to keep a pool within the town centre.
He said: "It is a very good alternative to restoring the quarry pool. I think our fight initially was to renovate and restore the original building. If that was unrealistic to do financially then it was that the pool should stay in the town centre. Even if it meant knocking the quarry down and building a new complex within the river loop because part of our main fight has been that the town is the centre, people gravitate to the town and by moving it outside the town that would move people out of the centre and the town would lose income because of it.
"I think it could be an excellent way forward."
Councillor Nutting had confirmed that options are being examined to keep a swimming pool in Shrewsbury's town centre.
The announcement has come as a surprise to some with the council's previous administration having backed a plan to close the pools at the Quarry Swimming and Fitness Centre, and build a new one at Shrewsbury Sports Village in Sundorne.
Councillor Nutting, who represents Copthorne in Shrewsbury, said: "I am aiming to try to do something within the town centre. Negotiations will be taking place over the next few months. It won't be a quick fix, it will take time to sort out but I will do everything I can to keep the swimming pool in the river loop."
The council leader would not be drawn on any potential sites for a pool in the town centre but Shropshire Council's previous cabinet member for planning, Mal Price, had suggested using the Riverside Shopping Centre.
Speaking last year Mr Price, who stepped down at May's council elections, said: "Staying where it is one option but I support those who say the pool should remain in the town centre but say where it currently is lacks parking.
"I think the best place for the pool would be the Riverside, it's a part of town that needs regenerating.
"It's dilapidated and needs updating.
"There would also be access to parking at the rear, and access to the bus and railway station."
