£213,500 of funding to meet swimming pool energy costs and keep them open

A total of £213,500 of funding has been awarded to West Suffolk Council to help offset increased utility costs and ensure its pools remain open.

This support follows £300,000 agreed by the council as part of the 2023/2024 budget to support facilities remaining open in West Suffolk.

The successful bid for Sport England Phase 1 Swimming Pool Grants funding has been awarded for three swimming pools at Bury St Edmunds, Haverhill and Newmarket leisure centres, owned by the council and operated by not-for-profit social enterprise Abbeycroft Leisure.

Due to inflation and soaring fuel utility bills Abbeycroft has seen, since 2020, energy costs rise by approximately £1.5m per year.

Swimming pools are particularly dependent on energy use, both in maintaining the ambient temperature in the facility and in heating the pool water to the right temperature for leisure use.

Abbeycroft has taken measures to improve energy efficiency and reduce its consumption.

Ian Shipp, cabinet member for Leisure said: “I’m delighted with this award. Being physically active is fundamental to our health and swimming pools are valued by a huge range of ages and abilities. The unprecedented rises in energy costs plus inflation have put severe pressure on budgets, but this council has made healthy families and communities a priority and we have been working closely with Abbeycroft Leisure to keep the pools open. This funding is very helpful.”

Warren Smyth, chief executive of Abbeycroft Leisure, said: “Soaring energy costs, the impact of Covid and cost of living pressures are putting swimming pools across the country under huge pressure. We have received excellent support from West Suffolk Council but this is a much wider issue and we are very pleased to have received this national award.”

To find out about your local pool’s swimming timetable visit https://www.acleisure.com/swimming/swimming-timetables/