Swimming club hits out at council over move to bail out pool

SWIMMERS fighting for funds to revamp the dilapidated municipal pool in Douglas criticised a city decision last night to bail out a loss-making pool.

Sundays’ Well Swimming Club, whose members train in Gus Healy pool in Douglas, said they couldn’t understand how the council was able to find €150,000 for a leisure complex the city manager says isn’t being used enough, while they are still waiting for funding for a pool they say is in constant use.

Club members staged a protest outside last night’s city council budget meeting.

Staff numbers and public opening hours at the Douglas pool have been slashed in recent months.

Club spokesman Aidan Lougheed said the pool is in constant use and the revenues generated must mean it is breaking even.

But repeated requests for funds to revamp the facility have fallen on deaf ears.

Mr Lougheed branded a decision during the budget meeting to give Leisureworld a €150,000 grant to help meet the running costs of their €9.2m Churchfield facility ‘a disgrace’.

The pool and gym complex opened debt-free in June.

But it is losing money because not enough people are using it.

“Up to five clubs, 21 primary schools and members of the public use the Douglas pool,” Mr Lougheed said.

“We think it’s a disgrace that Mr Gavin can produce €150,000 for Churchfield in a flash.

“I wish Churchfield the best of luck. But Douglas is in constant demand. We need the Douglas facility properly funded and in municipal hands,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sports Minister John O’Donoghue has told the club he is planning to reopen the local authority swimming pool funding programme in January and that Douglas pool is top priority for funding.