Bid to save St Annes pool rejected

9:15pm Sunday 13th April 2008

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A multi-million pound offer from a property firm to save St Annes swimming pool has been turned down.

Lytham-based developers Kensington had put forward the financial package thought to be in the region of £4m, dependant on plans being approved to build 1,100 homes in the Queesway area of St Annes.

Fylde Council chiefs have rejected the bid and have said the pool will close, as planned, on July 31.

Council leader John Coombes said: "We need to move forward on a brand new facility that will be there for the long-term.

"This is a fantastic offer from Kensington, but the planning process is fraught with difficulties."

A working group set up to secure the future of swimming in the borough is looking at the option of having a new pool in the centre of Fylde.

The group includes Michael Jack MP, the Amateur Swimming Association, the YMCA, Kirkham Baths, Lancashire Sport, local schools, Sport England and Kirkham and Rural Fylde Parish Council.

The group aims to support the baths in Kirkham through community involvement, and provide staff from the YMCA to cover for any staff shortages.

In the long-term it is hoped the council and the YMCA could agree to build a new facility in the centre of the borough, that would be operated and staffed by the YMCA.

Councillor Simon Renwick, cabinet member for culture and tourism, said: "To have people from all these agencies around the table reflects the importance of this issue.

"The next step is to devise an action plan, drawing together the expertise and resources which have an interest in the future of swimming in Fylde."