Synchronised Swimming Club speak out against plans to close Halifax Swimming Pool

Calderdale Council intends to close the Skircoat Road pool, and build a new leisure centre which would incorporate a swimming pool on the site of the existing leisure complex at North Bridge, Halifax.

The proposed plans currently do not outline how deep the new pool would be. In order to continue to safely train there, the club needs a pool that is at least three meters deep.

“We’re a really successful club. We’ve got 150 members aged five to sixty-four, we’ve won national titles and some of our members have gone on to compete and train team GB.

“If we were to lose this facility, we’d lose members because there’s no other faclity like this nearby,” said Head Coach Charlotte Hughes.

The plans to close Halifax Swimming Pool have also upset art lovers, as the pool features a mosaic mural, entitled ‘British Pond Life, by celebrated artist Kenneth Barden.

Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Resources, Coun Jane Scullion, said: “No final decision has been made about the facilities on offer in the proposed new leisure centre in Halifax. The designs are in an early stage of development and do not currently include specific detail, such as the proposed depth of the pool.

“Before the coronavirus outbreak, we were in the process of asking people to have their say on the latest proposals both online and via a number of drop-in sessions where people could view the plans and provide feedback.

“Unfortunately the current restrictions have meant that the majority of these sessions needed to be postponed. We are really grateful for the useful and detailed feedback we have received so far and we’ll look to continue detailed consultation when it is safe to do so. All comments received will be considered during the next phase of design.”

To sign the club’s petition, click here.