Rethinking Local Pools

A report into the future of the island’s swimming pools has suggested using the regeneration of Castle Rushen High School to create a ‘mini NSC’.

The Knight Kavanagh and Page report will go to Tynwald in January.

We have already reported that the report has recommended that the gov step in to secure the short-term future of the pool while decisions on its future are made.

However, the report also said that the gov needs to be ‘clear about any decision to replace the southern pool and ensure this is communicated to local users and residents’.

With the future of the school and the pool still up in the air, KK&P has said that there is an opportunity to resolve both issues at once, something that has previously been called for by several Tynwald members.

In June last year (first time we’ve been able to say that for 2023) MHKs Tim Glover, Dr Michelle Haywood, Jason Moorhouse and Speaker Juan Watterson, as well as MLCs Diane Kelsey and Rob Mercer signed a joint statement calling for the new school and a new southern community pool to be built as part of one project.

In its report, KK&P said: ‘If there is a proposal to replace Castle Rushen HS the opportunity exists to create a mini NSC which should include a community fitness suite and ensure that the sports hall is also incorporated into the same general ‘sports space’. We would envisage that the sports hall, dance studio and 3G pitch are the primary dual use facilities.’

North and West

The report also recommended improving the offering at the other regional pools as a way to further boost their income.

At the northern pool, in Ramsey, RR&P said there is the potential to add a fitness suite and studio. It said: ‘This would require circa 200m2 for the fitness suite and 100m2 for the studio as well as circulation space. However, we would not recommend that this is undertaken with the current Regional Pool Board arrangement in place.’

At the western pool, in Peel, the report said there is the potential to add an indoor adventure play facility, which would need ‘250m(squared) of double height space’. It added: ‘ This would build on its location next to the school, camping and outdoor play facilities and potentially draw from outside of Peel. The focus of income generation would be on play sales and secondary spend with minimal additional staff required.’