02/05/2023
We are extremely disappointed at Cumberland Council’s decision to renege on Allerdale Borough Council’s approved plans to build a new swimming pool in the town.
The committee secured over £16K and worked in partnership with Maryport Town Council to undertake a feasibility study and develop fully costed plans with Allerdale Borough Council. We were delighted when funding was secured from the Future High Street Fund to build a new pool at The Wave.
A pool is vital to the physical and mental wellbeing of local residents and is important in attracting tourists to the town (over 500,000 people visit each year). It allows children to learn to swim, introducing them to an accessible and healthy form of exercise and reducing the risk of accidents - we have letters of support from every school in the local area, plus over 500 people completed our survey showing their support.
We were not informed of the budget implications and we’re still yet to see the projected running costs. Significant funds have already been spent on the project - architects were appointed and we liaised on the design of the changing rooms. We want transparency.
We ask that alternative potential solutions be considered, such as energy saving measures and community ownership, and we ask that Cumberland Council live by their values when it comes to the people of Maryport: Be compassionate, Be innovative, Be empowering, Be ambitious, Be collaborative.
