AFTER cutting the ribbon Ashburton’s Portreeve and Master Bailiff jumped into the town’s swimming pool to celebrate its summer opening, and the award of a £75,000 Sport England grant.
Despite the rain it was smiles all round as Portreeve Tony Lewis and Master Bailiff Nick Laity dived in. This season Teignbridge Council has handed the pool’s reins to a group of trustees after decades of council management. And the trustees have successfully bid for The National Lottery funding.
The funds will buy vital equipment to reduce the huge costs associated with operating an outdoor pool, such as a heat pump and pool cover. It will also go towards building more shelter at the pool for spectators and more equipment for lessons and activities, including waterpolo.
Anna Hattersley, chairman of the pool’s trustees, said: ‘This award is fantastic news for the community of Ashburton who came out in force on our opening day as a community pool in spite of the pouring rain.
‘The proposed shelter would have come in incredibly useful on the opening day but even without it the atmosphere was incredible. The rest of the funding will help us buy vital equipment to keep the pool going and make it more viable.
‘It’s taken an awful lot of hard work by a group of very dedicated volunteers to get to the point of opening as a community pool. This award will help us start taking the next steps towards securing the pool’s future.’
Charles Johnston, of Sport England, added: ‘Our inspired facilities fund has had a huge impact on grassroots sport across the country. Since 2011 we’ve invested £102 million into more than 1,920 projects to improve and refurbish sports clubs and transform non-sporting venues into vibrant community sports clubs.
‘It’s great to see Ashburton Swimming Pool join the long list of successful clubs to benefit from this fund.’