School pool may be closed (From Gazette Series)

School pool may be closed

BERKELEY swimming pool may have to close if local people cannot raise £30,000 to carry out much needed repair work.

The pool at Berkeley Primary School has served the town's people for more than 40 years but after a recent inspection it faces closure if it cannot be brought up to scratch with modern health and safety specifications.

Martin Bragg, headteacher of Berkeley Primary School, said the facility was a worthwhile amenity for the Berkeley community and one worth saving.

He said: "The school has been able to provide weekly swimming lessons during the summer months for children in each class and we have been proud of the attention we have been able to give to this aspect of the curriculum.

"We desperately want to keep the pool going but are faced with major capital costs in order to do so."

Inspectors visited the swimming late last year and told the school what improvements needed to be made.

Mr Bragg said: "The problems have a lot to do with the filtration rates."

Berkeley Primary school has already been given two quotes for the improvements the pool needs. One of the quotes estimates repair work will cost £14,000, the other £30,000 but Mr Bragg has said there is no real choice.

He said: "We need to bring it up to specification with modern regulations.

"We could raise just £14,000 and do the bare minimum required but then in a few years we'd find we need to spend more money to finish the job properly. We ideally need to get £30,000."

But the school simply does not have the funds to pay for such a project and neither does the Local Education Authority.

Mr Bragg said: "There's just no money. The Local Education Authority hasn't got the money to support school swimming pools."

In an attempt to save the pool and raise the much-needed cash, Berkeley Primary School is arranging a public meeting next month to try and get people involved.

Mr Bragg said: "At this stage we are just trying to mobilise support and get a group of people who will move things forward."

The meeting will be held at Berkeley Primary School Hall on Thursday, February 23 (7pm).