Halifax Synchronised Swimming Club faces uncertain future due to closure of pool

Calderdale Council said last week that due to severe structural deterioration, Halifax Swimming Pool has been permanently closed to protect the safety of its staff and users.

The club is celebrating it’s 20th anniversary this year. It was founded by head coach Charlotte Hughes, starting with just four swimmers, but now boasts over 100 members from age five to 60.

Its members consistently win medals at national, north east and Yorkshire events and the club has produced swimmers who have gone on to swim in Great Britain teams.

Current member Isobel Davies swam with GB in the Fina Artistic Swimming World Series 2019, winning silver in the combination team event.

In a statement, the club said: “The closure of our only training facility will have a massive impact on our club.

“The sport requires a considerable depth of water to enable the swimmers to safely execute their routines and lifts.

“The synchro swimmers cannot touch the bottom of the pool at any point in a routine or lift.

“The club hopes to access some training time at the other Calderdale pools but fears that their past success in competitions will be massively impacted due to shallow water training facilities they will be forced to train at due to the closure of Halifax Pool.

“The club and its swimmers feel completely let down by Calderdale Council and are disappointed that there will not be adequate facilities for our young aspiring athletes to continue in the sport they love.

“As a result of this closure, our future is uncertain.

“The plans for the new pool have yet to revealed fully, be passed for planning and also be built, this will take precious time.

“Our concerns now move onto the proposed new pool being fit for purpose.

“Sports clubs like Halifax Synchro are worried that the proposed new pool will be a blueprint of the new Sowerby Bridge and Brighouse pools, and as a result will not deep enough to accommodate synchro and diving.

“Halifax pool was such a fantastic facility not only for synchro but for diving, swimming, water polo, octopush and sub Aqua.

“It’s 12 foot 6 deep diving pit meant that lots of different aquatic sports could be accommodated whilst it’s T shaped pool meant that other activities such as public swims could take place at the same time. It was such a versatile pool and will be missed by the local public and its clubs.

“Halifax pool was, until its closure, being used by the north east and Yorkshire swimming associations for synchro competitions, attracting hundreds of spectators and competitors, bringing in much needed funds for the Council facility and local economy.

“The pool is the only facility currently to have deep enough water for synchro and diving in the local area. You will have to travel to Leeds to access facilities like it, which is not accessible for most of our members, some of which travel from as far as Ilkley and Skipton just to train and compete for Halifax.

Head coach Charlotte said: “Halifax Pool holds so many memories for me personally. I started my synchro journey at this pool when I was five years old having been introduced to it by my mum who also started synchro here in 1966.

“My daughter is now following in my footsteps at the same age I started. I worry that future generations will not be able to access synchro and the fantastic life lessons that sports can teach you.

“Calderdale promotes on their website that its “vision is to be the most active borough in the North by 2024”.

“I feel that closing yet another sports facility will be certainly a step in the wrong direction to achieve this.

“To close a facility during a pandemic where fitness and mental health is at an all time low will have a detrimental effect upon Calderdale and its communities.”

Louise Seal, a parent of one of the club’s members, said: “In Halifax Pool we have something that many towns with swimming pools don’t have and yes it’s not the most modern swimming pool, or the fanciest new gym but a facility which allows swimmers to go beyond the ‘ordinary’. In fact to be extra ordinary.

“The synchro and diving teams are capable of something different, something which a lot of people aren’t and now, will never be.

“I watch my daughter competing in Synchro and me being one of those that doesn’t ‘have’ what it takes I am beyond proud that she does.

“In my eyes this is her ‘super power’, this is part of who she is as an inspiring young lady. It’s become an important part of her growing up; it’s shaping her as an individual; it’s instilling in her important values, perseverance, team work, routine, dedication, commitment, competition, winning, losing, respect, friendship and love.

“I hope Halifax finds that it can continue to provide the extra ordinary for the children and adults that use these far and few between pool facilities; that they remember there are many more future synchro swimmers and divers to come if they allow.”