Future of Castleton Swimming Pool still unknown with repairs estimated at £400,000

Photo: Google, DigitalGlobe

Castleton Swimming Pool

The future of Castleton Swimming Pool is still unknown with repairs to bring the pool up to a modern standard estimated at £400,000, a meeting on Tuesday (7 February) heard.

The pool, which is over 100 years-old, has closed twice in the last year due to presence of deadly Legionella bacteria.

A Link4Life spokesman said: “United Utilities is currently investigating traces of residue within the mains water supply serving the pool, which became present the day after the fire at Carcraft.

“To date no link between the two has been established. Link4Life is awaiting a formal response on the outcome of the testing.

“All pools use mains water, there is no requirement to upgrade this at Castleton Swimming Pool at present.

“Our priority remains ensuring that the facility is safe and that the best interests of users are protected.”

The meeting heard that to correct the issues it would cost an immediate sum of £110,000 and in excess of £400,000 over the next three years.

Regarding the costs, a spokesman for Link4Life said: “Quotes have been received and are now being considered by Rochdale Borough Council and Link4Life to establish the best way forward.

“Due to the high costs, these will be considered further by Rochdale Borough Council in March 2017.”

Castleton-based swimming club, Aquabears, which is one of the affected groups and users, currently use lane facilities at Rochdale and Middleton baths, with only 19 hours of pool time each week, down from their usual 30, and some hours offered are unsuitable, such as between 9pm and 10pm.

The club is reduced to swimming in two lanes at Rochdale, as opposed to their usual five at Castleton, resulting in "cramped and unsafe swimming conditions" for the children.

Aquabears coach, Mark Crouch, said: “Some of our competitive swimmers are starting to struggle due to the lack of space and lack of time. Some of our swimmers have stopped coming and we’ve been getting complaints from parents. We’re trying to make the best of what we’ve got; we’ve managed to get by so far.

“We’re sympathetic to the situation, but we need better communication about the pool’s future; we need transparency. People need to make their voices heard to the Council and Link4Life with their concerns. There were talks of a contingency plan in case something like this occurred, but it never happened.”

Councillor Billy Sheerin, who addressed the meeting on Tuesday, said: “I’m fully supportive of the people of Castleton and the baths. We’ll fight to keep it.”

Councillor Sheerin has a strong family tie with the pool, as he learned to swim there, as did his father and his children. However, he confirmed at the meeting that a proposal to close the facility had been put forward by Link4Life in December.

The Aquabears Swimming Club, which usually trains at Castleton, was formed in 1979 in response to the need for a high level competitive training club. The club has had many successful years with a number of swimmers achieving international success.

Three-time Olympian Keri-Anne Payne, who won a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, a bronze at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and also gold at the LEN European Swimming Cup in 2014 is the club’s most famous face.

The club also counts Stacey Houldsworth, John Davey and Richard Maden amongst its successes. All three have represented Great Britain at World Championships, with John Davey and Richard Maden qualifying for the 'B' finals in the 1992 and 1996 Olympics, respectively.