Lune Valley swimming pool secures £30,000 grant from National Lottery Community Fund

Trustees of the Lune Valley Community Society (LCVS), which operates the swimming pool in Hornby, said they were delighted to receive the grant.
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Trustees said the grant will help to alleviate the economic problems associated with shutdown and conforming with Covid19 precautions such as extra cleaning, spreading swimmers over more sessions and also ensuring they can cover costs if they were to shut down again.

It will provide further benefit for the community by underwriting subsidised family swimming and proposed work with local GP surgeries to offer rehabilitation and referred swimming opportunities.

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The grant will also cover additional staff training costs and qualifications and replacing the pool heating boiler and installation of CCTV coverage in the pool reception and admin areas.

Sessions at the pool. Photo was taken before the coronavirus pandemic.Sessions at the pool. Photo was taken before the coronavirus pandemic.
Sessions at the pool. Photo was taken before the coronavirus pandemic.

The pool was mothballed in 2017, but re-opened in 2018 under the management of not-for profit community organisation LVCS.

It had previously been owned by Lancashire County Council and run by Lancaster City Council.

Phil Mugford Chair of LVCS Trustees said: "At the end of 2019 there was an existential threat from accrued debts and operating losses.

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"The combination of this grant and our team efforts to reduce operating losses means that we can now say with some confidence that the immediate future of the pool is guaranteed.

Young people enjoying sessions at Lune Valley Swimming Pool.Young people enjoying sessions at Lune Valley Swimming Pool.
Young people enjoying sessions at Lune Valley Swimming Pool.

"While there is no room for complacency we can continue to provide a safe environment for leisure and exercise and maintain local employment opportunities.

"Above all please come along and enjoy the pool and thanks to everyone for support during this difficult period."

The pool is open to all, seven days per week, however booking in advance is essential as numbers are limited and some sessions are now over-subscribed.

Visit the website http://www.lunevalleypool.com to read the revised operating guidelines and the new timetables.