Brighton Pools Receive £397k To Help Keep Them Afloat

Saturday, 25 November 2023 06:00

Three city swimming pools have been awarded £397,000 funding to help keep them afloat as operating costs increase.

The Prince Regent, King Alfred and St Lukes have been awarded the funding after the council successfully prepared a joint bid with operator Freedom Leisure for a grant from the central government funded Swimming Pool Support Fund.

The popular pools are among 196 leisure centres and swimming pools in 103 local authorities which have received £20m funding, after being considered to be at risk of closure or serious service reduction.

The money will be used to help with heating, maintenance and pool chemical costs, which have all seen prices soar.

The three city swimming pools attract more than 550,000 visits each year. These include school swimming lessons and free sessions for under 18s.

Councillor Alan Robins, chair of the Culture, Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Economic Development Committee, said:

“We welcome this vital funding which will help to keep our three popular pools open to the public over the coming months.

“As a coastal city it’s vital that our residents, especially children, have the opportunity to learn to swim, and we are committed to keeping swimming accessible and affordable. That’s why we introduced our free swimming sessions for under 18s and the leisure card discount scheme.

“This funding will help us to ensure that our residents, many who are also affected by the cost-of-living crisis, can continue to enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of a regular swim.”

Sport England's Director of Place, Lisa Dodd-Mayne added:

"We know just how vital swimming pools and leisure centres are to our nation’s activity levels, which is why Sport England is proud to have played a central role in the delivery of this fund.”