Save Seaton Pool

We realise that there are many good causes competing for finite resources. We also realise that the elected Plymouth City Councillors have difficult decisions as to where funding should be made.

However, the Save Seaton Pool campaign strongly believe that the proposed decision is wrong and should be deferred indefinitely. We believe that every argument is on our side and that the pool can be kept open for the indefinite future, or until a new facility is available.

We believe:-

Swimming is a sport for all ages.

Swimming is a sport for all abilities and disabilities.

Swimming is a sport that is not gender specific; both boys and girls and men and women can take part.

Seaton Pool is structurally sound and in the short term the most economical way to provide a third public swimming pool within the City of Plymouth.

The RDA is not planning to do anything with the site immediately after closure; it will merely be boarded up for the foreseeable future.

Detailed plans being circulated for shutdown even while consultation is in progress. To be fair, during the consultation progress, the council should also produce a detailed plan showing what will happen if the pool remains open.

The rumoured £80,000 spent on the Big Wheel on Royal Parade would have been better spent on Seaton Pool. The fireworks paid for by the City Council should be reconsidered in light of the threat to Seaton Pool.

There are are promises of plans to consider the possibility of a 50m pool at Central Park. If this pool ever happens the existing Central Park pool complex will have to close for 1-2 years. Only Plympton Pool will then remain in service.

The existing Central Park pool complex is over 40 years old and will need to be replaced at some time. Again, only Plympton Pool will remain in service.

The existing Central Park pool complex is used for private hire swimming events on several (possibly 10) weekends per year. If Seaton Pool closes only Plympton Pool remain open on these weekends.

The Council has not yet considered what to do with the 500 children having learn to swim lessons at Seaton.

The Council has not yet considered what to do with the 700 children having national curriculum related swimming lessons at Seaton. Among the schools that will be affected by the proposed closure of Seaton Pool are West Park, St Pauls RC, Victoria Road, Woodfield Primary, Woodford Juniors, Holy Cross, Widey Court, Hooe Primary, Tamerton Vale, Leigham Primary, St Peters RC, Manadon Vale Primary and Pomphlett Primary.

There has been no contact yet with the management of Marjons Pool.

The times of the current sessions of Plymouth Pisces Swimming Club on Sunday mornings are untenable if Seaton Pool closes.

The proposed closure of Seaton Pool is a kneejerk reaction and has not even begun to be thought through.

It is very easy to close the doors on Seaton Pool, but once it has closed it will be impossible to re-open.Keep e-mailing and/or writing to the City Councillors.