Durham County Council is proposing to build a new swimming baths in Chester le Street without the facility of a spectators area over the main pool. This proposal will have a serious detrimental effect on the local swimming club which supports life-saving skills for children of all ages and abilities.

Chester le Street Swim Club has over 100 members, some who have gone on to achieve fantastic results. At the beginning of August several swimmers represented Chester le Street in the British Swimming Nationals at Sheffield Ponds Forge held by Swim England and achieved several medals. If this proposal goes ahead Chester le Street swimming club will close.

The club will be unable to hold galas and therefore will be unable to raise funds, without funds Chester le Street Swim Club will not be able to pay the fees required to use the pool and will close. 

The children who are part of this club, turn up at 6am and do 2 hours training before school, 2 hours after school 5/6 times a week and weekends. If the club closes, to continue their training they would have to join clubs outside the area adding travel to their already gruelling schedule. Parents will be hit with additional expense of travelling and some will be unable to do this as there is no public transport at this time of the morning.

This club is fundamental to the success for these swimmers but must be able to raise funds to keep the club running, no viewing gallery, means no spectators, no galas, no funds, no club. This club has swimmers who have the fastest times in the England and deserve better than this. We should be encouraging kids to join sporting clubs, not taking away their facilities. 

Please sign the petition to support our actions for Durham County Council to revisit this proposal, we must keep the spectator’s gallery over the main pool. 

NEW MAIN POOL AT CHESTER LE STREET MUST HAVE A VIEWING GALLERY