Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC), in partnership with Meridian Trust and Sawtry Village Academy, celebrated the successful reopening of Sawtry Swimming Pool on Saturday 28 March.
Residents were invited to join the fun at One Leisure Sawtry as the centre hosted a free Open Weekend to recognise the recommissioning and reopening of the Sawtry Swimming Pool. The event was an opportunity for the local community to explore the facilities and enjoy a range of activities suitable for all ages.
Restoring the pool to full operation required an estimated £600,000 in capital funding following its closure in December 2022 due to escalating financial pressures and low usage. Last year, £360,000 was approved from the Community Infrastructure Levy alongside an additional contribution of £180,000 from HDC and £60,000 from Sawtry Village Academy.
HDC's One Leisure team have overseen the operation of these facilities. Works included replacing essential specialist pool plant equipment, reconnecting the air handling and hot water systems and installing a new pool cover and hoist to improve accessibility.
Mike Gildersleeves, Corporate Director for Place at Huntingdonshire District Council, said: "This investment which has successfully brought Sawtry Swimming Pool back into use is a testament to the excellent partnership working between the council, Meridian Trust and Sawtry Village Academy. This collaborative effort has brought significant benefits to the local community, providing accessible and affordable swimming opportunities for all. With Sawtry’s population continuing to grow, reinstating the pool will help address the district’s shortage of swimming facilities and meet increasing local demand. We are delighted that residents will once again have access to a local leisure centre and swimming pool.
Reopening, and reinvigorating this facility is bucking the national trend - with a landscape of rising costs placing pressure on leisure facilities; I am incredibly grateful to the One Leisure and Estates teams, Councillors, and staff from the Trust and Academy for helping make this happen; and I look forward to our teams helping to continue to support residents to have healthier, fitter, and more active lifestyles and for young people to gain new life skills and sporting opportunities.”
Mark Woods, CEO of Meridian Trust, said: "We are proud to be part of this collaborative project which has bought Sawtry Swimming Pool back into use. At Meridian Trust, we are committed to creating opportunities that benefit both our students and the wider community. This investment has not only restored a vital local facility but also enhance health, wellbeing, and learning for all. We look forward to seeing the pool once again serve as a hub of activity and community spirit in Sawtry."
Simon Parsons, Principal of Sawtry Village Academy, added: "The reopening of Sawtry Swimming Pool is fantastic for both our students and the wider community. Swimming is a vital life skill, and having on-site access to such a facility will strengthen our curriculum and extra curricular offering. We’re incredibly grateful for the support from our partners and look forward to seeing the positive impact this will have on generations of young people and local residents alike."