Cardigan Swimming Pool and Memorial Hall opened in the late 1970s and has been a popular local facility for over 50 years, drawing thousands of people from our town and the surrounding villages.

In March 2024, it was closed and transferred to Ceredigion Council after extensive facility upgrades. We want the chance to open it again and build on everything it means to the local community.

Similar campaigns prove that communities can save local amenities, for example, the community saved pools in Narberth, Llandysul and Newcastle Emlyn.

The swimming pool has been a gathering place for families, a training ground for young swimmers and a hub for local events. The pool was instrumental in teaching water safety, drowning prevention and promoting wellbeing among residents of all ages. Swimming, surfing and sub-aqua clubs used the pool to train and develop lifesaving skills. The hydrotherapy pool has been used for muscular and neurological physiotherapy treatments. The main hall and smaller rooms were used for sport activities (badminton and table tennis), gym facility, exercise classes, youth club, birthday parties and many other events.

For over a year, the building has stood empty with the pool water being drained out. Extensive efforts have been made in the re-opening of the pool – researching options, analysing past accounts, speaking with funders and liaising with other community run pools. This new community group, Cardigan Pool Revival, includes people with essential skills and experience which includes pool and building maintenance, swim teacher, lifeguard trainer, financial manager, charity management, grant applications, project management and working with different levels of government. We have support from Cardigan Town Council, local County Councillors and our MS and MP. Cardigan Pool Revival featured on S4C and in the Tivyside Advertiser.

We also ran a survey where over 400 people supported a reopened pool and told us what they would like a future facility to offer.

The Council voted for the site to be used for a new Wellbeing Centre. We do not know if the Wellbeing Centre will include a swimming pool and when it will eventually be built.

Reopening our Swimming Pool will help show the Council that it is essential for to have a pool in Cardigan and is absolutely wrong for this coastal town to be without a local pool.

It is important for our local community to ensure all residents have access to a safe swimming environment.

Please help us re-open our swimming pool. Every voice counts in urging decision-makers to prioritise the re-opening of Cardigan Swimming Pool and we want Ceredigion County Council to hear us!

Please sign and share this petition to assist our cause.  Thank you.