Over £160,000 funding announced to keep two Torbay swimming pools afloat

Plainmoor Community Pool and Brixham’s Admiral Pool are set for big upgrade projects after receiving over £160,000 in project funding.

After both missing out in the first tranche of government funding, both pools were successful in this latest phase. The money is set to modernise the pools’ infrastructure and significantly reduce running costs. 

Plainmoor Pool, run by the charity Swim Torquay was awarded over £100,000 for two projects, to be started this year.

The first project was funded by the Valencia Communities Fund, an independent, not-for-profit organisation which provides funding for community, heritage and biodiversity projects around the UK.

This grant will replace the pool hall's ageing air heating and dehumidification system. The present system, which is over 25 years old, will be replaced in early August with a new Recotherm unit which uses less energy and is, crucially, more cost-effective to run.

Additionally, Sport England funds will support the installation of a second array of solar panels and allow for the replacement of all light fittings with more efficient LED lighting.

These works will reduce electricity consumption and together with the Recotherm unit will significantly reduce the charity’s utility bills at a time when running costs are at an all-time high.

Swim Torquay is a registered charity, established in 1977, and together with the work of the Directors, Staff and Volunteers depends on the support of trusts and foundations, the local community and Torbay Council to keep entry prices low and cover the significant costs of maintenance and refurbishment.

Kate Merrick, Director of Swim Torquay, said: “We are hugely grateful to Sport England and Valencia Communities Fund for supporting Swim Torquay in these challenging times. Plainmoor Pool has played a vital role in our community for over 40 years and we are determined to ensure it continues to do so for many years to come.

“These grants will make a huge difference to our future cost management and continuing viability and we thank everyone involved for all their efforts in securing this funding. We are looking forward to getting these projects completed later this year.”

For Admiral Pool in Brixham, a Sport England Grant of over £60,000 will provide new solar panels, bringing down their energy costs that currently stand at about £10,000 a month. 

Phil Thomas, manager of Admiral Pool, said: “It’s a massive relief to be awarded this grant in phase two. It will make a huge difference to our energy costs and really make our lives easier.”

This government funding is part of the Swimming Pool Support Fund (SPSF) which has invested £80 million into 442 swimming pools across the country since last year.

The funding comes at a tricky time for swimming pools across the country, all of which have seen spiralling energy and chemical bills as well as hefty maintenance costs and funding cuts. England has lost almost 400 of its public pools since 2010, and according to Swimming England, hundreds more are at risk if no action is taken.

After the two pools missed out on the initial round of funding last year, MP Kevin Foster said that he worked with Sport England and the Sports Minister Stuart Andrew MP to push Torbay’s case.

Commenting, Kevin Foster MP said: “Plainmoor Pool lies at the heart of the local community and provides a range of activities for it. This funding will help improve energy efficiency and reduce running costs, helping secure it for the long-term.”