Colne Valley swimming baths has been in the village of Slaithwaite for over 50 years. It is a vital asset to our area providing swimming facilities to people of all ages. 

Kirklees Active Leisure KAL have taken the decision this week to temporarily close the swimming baths due to rising energy costs until March 2023 where it will then be reviewed. This has been done without speaking to service users (many of which would be willing to pay more) or without consultation as to how savings /services could be revised.

The baths provides private swimming lessons, school swimming lessons, a range of aqua classes, swim club as well as the public and lane swims that people enjoy for the health benefits. Many service users unable to do weight bearing exercises for a variety of different reasons.

As a nation we are in the grips of a mental health crisis yet the very things that promote our health and mental wellbeing are being closed. Where are the preventative measures instead of the reactive ones?!

Generations after generations have been taught and improved their swimming skills at this pool and it would be a great loss to the area for it to close.

The Colne Valley is surrounded by water, from the river Colne to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and the vast number of reservoirs and brooks that surround the area, yet we won’t have a facility to teach our children the valuable life skill of swimming. 

Please support this petition and let’s try and keep this valuable local facility open. Thanks Sarah