Could council pull the plug on some swimming pools?

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter

Questions continue to be asked whether the plug will be pulled on some of the current 12 swimming pools in Powys after 2030.

At a meeting of all three Powys council’s scrutiny committee this week, councillors probed the leisure facilities update to provide advice and recommendations on the proposals.

This is ahead of the report going to the Liberal Democrat/Labour Cabinet meeting for a decision at a meeting on July 14.

The report explains that a final decision on the future of leisure centres is supposed to happen in the spring of 2028 – which would allow the new tender process to be for a “redesigned” leisure portfolio.

Currently the leisure centres are operated on behalf of the council by Freedom Leisure.

Cabinet member for Customers, Digital and Community Services, Cllr Raiff Devlin (Liberal Democrat – Talybont-on-Usk) explained the process ahead of the new contract coming into force on July 1, 2030.

Cllr Adrian Jones (Conservative – Berriew and Castle Caereinion) said: “Key to all this is the swimming pools.

“I just wonder what number of pools can be supported in four years’ time, and what are we likely to see?”

Cllr Jones asked Cllr Devlin for some clarity on the issue, and he pointed out that swimming pools use a lot of energy to heat up.

Cllr Devlin said: “I won’t speculate as what I think should be deemed sustainable or achievable in respect to the number of swimming pools in Powys in four years’ time.”

He pointed out that 5,000 Powys children receive swimming lessons each week after school.

Cllr Devlin continued: “There is no doubt in my mind to the benefits of having the number of swimming pools that we do, they provide an essential public service, but they are significant energy users.

“The review will compile the necessary information to present options to the administration following next year’s (local) elections in respect of the number of swimming pools in the county that could be deemed sustainable.

Cllr Devlin continued: “‘That’s the purpose of setting out the review. We have certainty for four years and we will do all that we can to make sure those opportunities remain available to make sure that residents can take part in swimming activities for as long as possible.”

Recommendations from the joint-committee meeting will be added to the report which is scheduled to be decided by the Liberal Democrat/Labour cabinet at a meeting on July 14.