I am concerned to read recently that the Rye Rother District Councillors are ‘still waiting for details on how swimming pools will be helped to recover from the effects of the energy crisis’. I secured funding from the government for public sector pools earlier this year, with the chancellor announcing in the spring budget £63 million of new money to be made available in a one-year fund to support the 800 or so public sector leisure centres with swimming pools.
Sport England is delivering the funding, which is not going directly to organisations which manage public sector swimming pools (such as Freedom Leisure). It is up to local authorities to bid for the funding support. Sport England aims to allocate all resource support this year, with some capital projects being delivered in 2023-24. Of the £63 million, over £20 million will be available to support public swimming pool providers in England who are struggling with the rise in energy and running costs.
Keeping public swimming pools open is vital for our local communities up and down the country, especially in Rye which has such a large rural catchment. It is important that our local children, our retired population, and the public in general have access to a public swimming pool for swimming lessons, sport, keep-fit and general health and well-being.
August 11 deadline
Since the announcement in March, I have repeatedly urged Rother District Council to bid for the funding, as well as urging it to work with Rye Town Council to ensure that all available opportunities are explored in the application process. The closing date is fast approaching – August 11. It is encouraging that Rother has now submitted an expression of interest, but it would be a sacrilege if it missed the opportunity of securing funding for our pool.
Whilst over £20 million of the Sport England pot is ring fenced to help with energy costs, it is right that focus of the fund is on making leisure centres more energy efficient. I am encouraged that around £40 million of the fund will be made available for investment in decarbonisation and energy efficiency.
Making the pools and leisure centres more energy efficient will help their long-term energy and financial resilience – as well as supporting the government’s and local authorities’ commitments to meeting their net zero targets. I am aware that Rother District Council explored the possibility of installing solar panels on the roof of Rye Sports Centre in the past, but ruled this out due to the roof structure. There are, however, other sustainable energy options which may be suitable.
Public sector leisure centres are where most people start their relationship with sport or swimming, and they really do feed the next generation’s love of sport. My father used to take his four daughters swimming to our local pool every Saturday morning to give our mother a break (looking back, not quite sure how he managed it!). My children enjoyed swimming – swimming regularly as youngsters has set them up to enjoy swimming as a fun and healthy activity in adulthood.
After Covid, participation levels at public leisure facilities have not fully recovered and for many people, physical activity and sport is not part of their everyday life. Sport England reports that fewer than two-thirds of adults and less than 50% of children and young people meet the chief medical officer’s guidelines for physical activity.
A community asset
I am conscious that I fall into this adult category and whilst it is often difficult to make time for our health when we are busy, I know I should – we all should. For others, it is the cost, where we live or what background we come from. Our public sports centre in Rye is a community asset, is part of our local community offer and is accessible and more affordable than the private sector.
Research commissioned by the government shows that being physically active has a positive effect not only on physical and mental wellbeing, but also on social and community development and individual development. This social value cannot be underestimated.
I understand that Rye Town Council is seeking to establish a community-based approach to the operation of Rye Sports Centre, so that local people run it for the benefit of local people. Bearing in mind that Freedom Leisure has operated the sports centre at a deficit, it is vital that the whole community gets on board to make this work and ensure that a community-based model of managing the pool guarantees a long-term and sustainable future.
Image Credits: Kt bruce .