They roared their support as mayor Andi Rivett pledged to fight tooth and nail to keep the swimming pool open. Almost 300 people from across Rother screaming “Save our pool” and venting their anger at Rother District Council (RDC) for merely shrugging their shoulders when Freedom Leisure (FL) declared they were closing Rye swimming pool with just two weeks’ notice.
This public meeting in the leisure centre car park last Saturday morning had been hastily convened by Mayor Rivett and Cllr Rebekah Gilbert to launch a campaign against the closure. Amidst the frantic beating of Ryebellion war drums our mayor raged against the decision by Ivan Horsfall Turner, chief executive of Freedom Leisure, to close the pool within weeks and without any prior consultation with either the public or RDC.
Eschewing the aid of a loud hailer, his impassioned voice carried across the leisure centre car park to all; “We are not in a very good place. It took us over 25 years to get our pool – now they want to take it away in three weeks! We will fight to keep it! We need our pool. Our town. Our pool. We will fight this.”
In a rare display of political unity, Sally-Ann Hart, Conservative MP for Hastings and Rye was joined by Helena Dollimore, the Labour parliamentary candidate. United in support of their constituents on this issue, they stood arm in arm (see top photo) with the mayor and Cllr Genette Stevens, the only RDC representative to be seen actively supporting this campaign.
Sally-Ann Hart had been in a meeting with Ivan ‘The Terrible‘ Horsfall Turner earlier in the week but had failed to convince him of the need to reverse his decision. She added: “I have highlighted the issue with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and drawn attention for immediate action. And I will continue to do so as any changes in office take place.”
Closure of the pool will have a huge impact on individuals, families, and schools who all use this facility not just for leisure, but for health and well-being issues. A regular pool user, Sheila Goldsmith from Rye, highlighted this vital aspect of the issue; “Without swimming, I have to take up to 19 painkillers a day” she said. “It’s just not practicable for me to use Bexhill. I need a full-time carer and I have to use my mobility scooter for travel. This pool is a lifeline for me. Closing it will be like cutting off my legs.”
Freedom Leisure has a contract with RDC to supply leisure services to Rye Sports Centre until March 31, 2026. The decision by FL to close the Rye pool “temporarily” until March 2023 to offset operating costs incurred by increasing energy prices is seen by many as a smokescreen. There will be no intention of re-opening next spring if this closure is allowed to happen.
Cllr Rebekah Gilbert concluded the meeting by telling supporters; “It’s about community. And the strength and commitment of the people here today is just fantastic.”
In just 60 minutes over £300 was raised by cash donations from the crowd to keep the pool open, a further £5,000 was donated from an anonymous supporter, and bank details were available for anyone wanting to pay by BACS.
As Cllr Gilbert said; “It’s about solutions. Not closure.”
And it’s now up to Rother District Council to get their act together and find a solution.
Image Credits: Kt bruce , Kt bruce .
Local support for keeping our pool open is great to see. The pool is a vital asset for our community’s health and well-being. But, the reality is that this is a numbers game. As RDC is unable or unwilling to pay a heating subsidy for Rye Pool – as seems to be the case – Freedom Leisure has simply decided to cut its (anticipated) losses and close the pool for winter. More information is needed about usage figures for Rye pool: is it underused, for example? How much is needed to pay for pool energy use this winter and can it be raised? More importantly, will the pool reopen after the scheduled ‘temporary closure’? We need to know this. There are only four indoor pools of any size in Rother and the largest two are privately owned (Battle Abbey Prep School and Crowhurst Park holiday village). RDC is actually ignoring its own recommendations on swimming pool provision. In a major report released only last month titled ‘Health, Well-being and Leisure Facilities Strategy 2023-2033’, RDC states a ‘key issue to address’ as “Future opportunities to increase provision of swimming pools … [to] better meet the needs of older residents in district and better contribute to opportunities for residents and visitors to be more active”. RDC says its “vision” is to provide “good quality, accessible and inclusive leisure” facilities for people. The energy cost crisis and RDC’s own lack of funding have combined to make this so-called vision a mirage for residents in Rye and east Rother.
Most unfair to say that Cllr Stevens is the only Rother councillor to campaign on this. Cllr Howard Norton and I attended the recent Rye Town Council meeting and spoke. (Cllr Stevens was not present). I and Guy Harris, Lib Dem candidate for Rye and Winchelsea, and others were at the public meeting last Saturday, but were not included in the photoshoot. Cllr Howard Norton and I have been working with Cllr Hazel Timpe, cabinet member with responsibility for leisure, and Rother’s CEO to try to find a solution and an meeting with Freedom Leisure’s CEO takes place today (Friday).
That said readers need to understand the magnitude of the problem. Freedom’s energy bill at Rye has increased by over £90,000 (ninety thousand pounds) per annum. How many swimmers at what price would be needed to meet that bill? Rother, like other Local Authorities, is facing increased bills, staff and contractor’s costs while at the same time Council Tax increases are capped at 2% while inflation is at 10% – and in any case a big increase would not be welcome. Leisure facilities are already heavily subsidised by Rother and Freedom had hundreds of thousands in support during covid. It is most unlikely that either Rother or central government, despite Sally-Ann Hart’s efforts, is able to afford the increased costs. For a town of 6,000 people (plus surrounding parishes in the catchment area) Rye has a remarkable leisure facility and it is a credit to the town that residents worked so hard to achieve it. I hope the pool can be saved, but local financial support is likely to be necessary.
It was great to see such a fabulous turnout and support for trying to find a solution to save the Rye Swimming Pool which is a great asset to our town and community! I am sure that other people who were not able to make the meeting would also like to donate and please can you publish how they can do this and confirm the BACS details please.