CHARD'S Cresta leisure centre has been thrown a lifeline after Somerset County Council announced £150,000 has been pledged to the pool.

News of the funding was revealed to councillors at a Chard full town council meeting last night (February 20).

A spokesman for Somerset County Council said: “We have put aside £150,000 to complete health and safety works at Cresta Pool. We continue to work with South Somerset District Council to raise funds to make further refurbishments to keep the pool open.”

Cllr Amanda Broom said: "This is great news for Chard and the surrounding area, after what seems like months of trying to get a response from SCC it is brilliant to finally have this.

"The community support and petition has been well rewarded and will hopefully ensure that the issues which led to previous closures will now be addressed.

"Swimming is part of the national curriculum, all children should have the opportunity to learn to swim locally". 

The news comes after angry residents launched a petition last month calling on the county council to commit to the pool's future.


RELATED: Click here for more on the petition


The petition was started by Chard resident Tracy Slater.

She said: "I'm so pleased to have played a part in getting SCC to fund some of the basic needs of the pool.

"As a user for the last 15 years, it's good to finally see some funding - I'd like to thank everyone who has signed and helped collect signatures."

Cresta Swimming Pool, which is managed by 1610 but owned by Somerset County Council (SCC), was forced to close for 16 days at the end of 2016 for an investigation into problems with air quality at the pool.

A survey undertaken at the end of 2015 estimated that the total repairs required for the pool could cost in excess of £1million.

The petition said: “The continual closures of the pool are threatening our children’s ability to learn to swim – as well as the health and wellbeing of many residents. We ask that Somerset County Council publicly tell us the plans for the pool’s viability and that all councils will take action to ensure the viability of a swimming pool in Chard.”