BUCKFASTLEIGH’S open-air swimming pool is seeking funds from the town’s council to stay open during its 130th anniversary year and beyond.

A spokesman for the pool trustees, who took over the running of the pool from Teignbridge District Council in 2015, said the charity needs approximately £20,000 to cover the anticipated gap in 2017/ 2018.

Buckfastleigh Town Council will be considering whether to provide funding to the pool and adjoining Victoria Park at its next full meeting on Wednesday, January 11.

The pool’s spokesman said: ‘We fought so hard to stop Teignbridge District Council from filling the pool in and closing it and we’ve raised more than £320,000 to fix the pool and improve the park.

‘Now, in its 130th year, it would be awful if it were to close, especially since we’ve got so many people swimming there and the park is very nearly completed.

‘We’re urging people to email the town clerk to let them know they would like to keep the pool open and would like to see it funded.

‘Bluntly, the pool income is about half what it needs to be to run the pool, park and skate park. We always knew there’d be a shortfall this year, and possibly in future years, but when we took on the pool and park and raised the money to fix the pool and build the new equipment, we thought it was worth it.

‘We hoped Teignbridge District Council would help fill the funding gap for this first year, but that didn’t happen. Now we hope Buckfastleigh Town Council will step in and help.

‘If we can’t fund it, the pool will close. It’s possible we might be able to open for a few weeks over summer and then close, but without making up the shortfall, the pool simply can’t run. We’ll have a restored and functioning pool, but it will have to stay closed until someone works out how to raise the money to run it.’

Wednesday’s town council meeting starts at 7.30pm at Buckfastleigh Town Hall.