Under threat Devon pools given huge survival boost

Four swimming pools in Devon which were under threat are to receive more than £350,000 national funding to help save them. The cash will help the swimming pools become more energy efficient, reduce their carbon footprint and be more eco-friendly, as the cost of living crisis had threatened their existence.

The money comes from the second phase of the Government’s Swimming Pool Support Fund. It will benefit pools in Moretonhampstead, Kingsteignton, Ashburton and Dawlish by cutting their energy costs.

Across the country more than 300 facilities with swimming pools have been awarded funding, which comes from Sport England providing £20 million via the national lottery and just over £40m from the Government as part of its commitment to support the long-term sustainability of public leisure.

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It recognises the threat posed to community and authority-run swimming facilities brought about by sustained energy cost increases over the last two years and help safeguard them by funding measures to increase energy efficiency, cut bills and reduce the district’s carbon footprint.

The success of the local bids, which were coordinated by Teignbridge District Council, represents a major achievement given the fund was four times oversubscribed with more than 700 applications being made nationally.

Moretonhampstead Swimming Pool and Kingsteignton Swimming Pool will receive £40,922 and £121,560 respectively, for pool covers and solar panels; Ashburton Swimming Pool will receive £20,200 for speed pumps and to deal with power correction issues and Dawlish Leisure Centre will receive £168,775 which will be spent on heat recovery to air handling units and solar panels.

Executive Member for Open Spaces, Leisure, Sport, Resorts and Tourism, Cllr John Nutley, said: “I congratulate Moretonhampstead, Kingsteignton and Ashburton for the bids they put together and I am delighted that their success means that local people will be able to enjoy improved facilities now and in the future.

“I also congratulate our Climate Change Officer and leisure team for the successful bid to improve Dawlish. This follows the substantial decarbonisation work we have carried out at Newton Abbot and Broadmeadow and is in line with the council’s efforts to significantly cut our carbon footprint.”