Petition to save Sawtry Swimming Pool considered by council

More than 1,400 outraged Sawtry residents helped to sign a petition asking HDC to intervene and prevent the closure of the swimming pool at Academy Leisure Sawtry.

Resident Kevin Medlock started the petition in September and presented it to councillors at a HDC full council meeting on December 15. 

Mr Medlock said: “It went better than I expected. I was very pleasantly surprised with the speed of support that we were getting.

"I feared the council were going to completely wash their hands of the matter because it is not their facility anymore; it is the school’s facility run by the Meridian Trust."

"We can’t get ahead of ourselves though, all we’ve achieved so far is the commitment from the district council, but I suppose that’s one step further than where we were yesterday.” 

The pool will officially close on December 23 due to due to high maintenance and running costs amid the cost-of-living crisis. (Image: Academy Leisure Sawtry)

At the meeting, Mr Medlock said the Trust had "failed" residents, and it was "disgraceful" that the Trust, who announced it would be closing the pool on December 23 because of financial pressures, had refused to engage with residents or the parish council.

Therefore, Mr Medlock petitioned HDC and was supported at the meeting by Cllr Simon Bywater and Cllr Ross Martin, who represent the Sawtry ward, and Cllr Tim Alban, who represents Stilton, Folksworth & Washingley.

Cllr Bywater said: “It is absolute fantasy if anyone in this room thinks that getting a bus to Huntingdon or Peterborough will be sufficient to take children to a swimming pool where they can learn this important life skill.

"Yes, some parents will have access to cars, but not everybody in our community has that blessing."

Cllr Bywater added that he feared without access to swimming pools, young people would explore dangerous areas like dykes and ponds to swim.

Cllr Martin added: "Repeating what Cllr Bywater has said, the residents of Sawtry are very fed up paying these ever-increasing council tax bills, year on year, and seeing more of our facilities disappear."

Cllr Alban said the closure would also have an economic impact because residents in the North West of Huntingdonshire could be forced to go to Peterborough to use the leisure centres and attractions there.

Cllr Alban said: "The potential to spend extra money in the Huntingdonshire economy might be lost. A pound in Peterborough’s pocket or one in Huntigdonshire’s hand? I know which one I would prefer.” 

Mr Medlcok also feared that members would leave the leisure centre if the pool closed, which could cause the whole centre to close down.

Solutions to the closure were offered, such as HDC taking it back, looking at Solar thermal heating options and utilising section 106 money to fund it.

However, Sarah Conboy, leader of HDC, said no immediate decision would be made, and they would try to organise a private meeting with the Trust to see what could reasonably be done going forward.