Community swimming pool motion passes unanimously

All local authorities in the south of the Island are set to join forces in a bid to secure a replacement community swimming pool in the region.

Castletown Commissioners unanimously passed a motion on Monday night to initiate a meeting early next year and discuss the facility.

The current pool in the grounds of Castle Rushen High School is approaching the end of its active life, yet there has been no mention of it being replaced.

Contact will now be made with neighbouring authorities to ‘determine a strategy’ for a new publicly funded swimming pool.

Commissioner Carol Quine said "all representative boards in the south are fully supportive of the motion."

A new school is expected to be built on the site of Castle Rushen in 2024 and board members believe it is the optimum location for the replacement pool.

Jamie Horton commented "a community swimming pool at a brand new school makes sense."

However, fellow commissioner Richard McAleer said he was "open-minded on where the pool should go."

The motion, which was put by Jeremy Ludford-Brooks, called for a joint meeting in the first quarter of 2021 with all southern local authorities.