1. An update from Rother District Council, Rye Town Council and Freedom Leisure
Partners aim to reopen Rye Pool:
Residents in Rye could see their local swimming pool reopened in the new year if efforts to persuade government to support the leisure industry in the face of massive increases in energy costs, along with a new partnership initiative, are successful.
Earlier this month, pool operator, Freedom Leisure, announced that it would have to close the pool over the winter period due to spiralling energy costs.
However, following a meeting on Friday 28 October between Rye Town Council, Rother District Council and Freedom Leisure, it was agreed that all parties needed to continue to lobby central government for support and to work together with the aim of reopening the pool in the new year.
Acknowledging the need for government support, the partners also agreed to look at various ways of addressing the issue, including:
• how energy use could be reduced across all the Freedom Leisure sites.
• how investing in energy saving measures - such as potential use of solar energy at the Rye site.
• how membership and visitor usage could be increased, all with the view to making the operation of the centre more sustainable in the future.
As a first step, the partners have already begun discussions with the owners of the pool – East Sussex County Council - to explore potential for placing solar panels on the roof.
In the meantime, the sports centre remains open to members and visitors to enjoy all other sports activities apart from swimming.
The Right Worshipful the Mayor of Rye, Councillor Andrew Rivett said; “The closure of our pool is a devastating blow for those dependent on it to maintain or manage their physical health and well-being – and let’s not forget that having a safe environment in which to learn to swim can mean the difference between life or death. The Town Council is committed to working with all stakeholders to re-open our treasured pool at the earliest opportunity. It is too important to lose and we must not let down all those who worked so hard to provide us with a fully-accessible, public pool.”
Cllr Hazel Timpe, Rother DC’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Leisure said: “No one wants Rye swimming pool to close and so I am delighted that we are working with the Town Council and Freedom Leisure to hopefully reopen the pool as early in the new year as is possible.
“In the meantime, we will continue to lobby national government to give further support to local businesses – who are trying to cope with massive energy increases - and to local government which is also under huge financial pressure.”
Ivan Horsfall Turner, CEO of Freedom Leisure said: “We are devastated it has come to this and we will do everything we can to try and reverse the decision however, we are all clear, and it was further evidenced in Sally-Ann Hart MP’s recent BBC television interview, that without central government support and public sector leisure being included as a vulnerable business in the January review, an earlier reopening is unlikely.”
*** Make of that what you will! ***
2. In addition to the joint update with In addition to the joint update with Rother DC and Freedom Leisure (issued in a seperate post), Rye Town Council makes the following statement:
LOBBY FOR YOUR POOL
Despite our collective best efforts, Freedom Leisure decided it had no option but to proceed with the temporary closure of our public pool on 1 November.
All stakeholders – whether they are pool users, pool manager or pool owner - are keen to see it re-open at the earliest opportunity. It will take some time to work up a plan to ensure a long-term, sustainable future for the pool and so significant short-term funding needs to be found.
Other public pools have closed – or are on the verge of closing – and it is likely that more will follow unless the Government can be persuaded to provide additional funding towards pool providers’ energy costs.
You can help by emailing - or writing to - those below, explaining what the closure of the Rye pool means to you – and asking the Government to provide 12 months’ of extra energy costs support for public leisure centres.
Sally-Ann Hart MP (Hastings & Rye constituency)
Swallow House, Theaklen Drive, St Leonards-on-Sea TN38 9AZ
sallyann.hart.mp@parliament.uk
Huw Merriman MP (Bexhill & Battle constituency – includes some parishes in the Rye Pool catchment area)
29-31 Sea Road, Bexhill-on-Sea TN40 1EE
huw.merriman.mp@parliament.uk
The Rt Hon Michelle Donelan MP (Sec of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA
michelle.donelan.mp@parliament.uk
If you can email all the above raising your concerns and sending a link to petition, but in particular the The Rt Hon Michelle Donelan MP (Sec of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) above.
I will, also, email her a link to this petition asking her to recognise the strong opposition to the closure and to read the comments and to take action to get the pool reopened as soon as possible.
Basically, it's down to us to make as much noise a possible!!! You can also join the page below -