Following decisions made by Cabinet members last week, this in from the council. Ed
The Isle of Wight Council has confirmed it will be seeking proposals from third parties to manage and maintain Waterside Pool at Ryde Esplanade.
The deadline for expressions of interest will be the end of January 2011, with a decision on any proposals by the end of February.
The council is due to close the pool from 31 March 2011 if no alternative management arrangements are acceptable.
Seeking alternative proposals
At its meeting on 7 December, the council’s cabinet agreed to the closure of the pool as part of its overall savings of £32 million over the next four years. But it also agreed to seek alternative proposals from community groups and other third parties.
Any new management arrangements would have to be at no long-term cost to the council.
As part of any management transfer, the council would seek to ensure the facility remains as a swimming pool for a minimum of 21 years, and sufficient time is programmed for pay-and-swim (casual) public swimming activities.
Cabinet member responsible for leisure, Councillor George Brown, said: “We hope that positive proposals from the community or other sectors will be forthcoming to take on the running of Waterside Pool.
“We recognise it is much valued by its users and would hope that an acceptable alternative management arrangement can be achieved.”
If no proposals are accepted or received, the pool will close on 31 March, and the council will make safe the vacant site. It will then consider options to dispose of the site, including the option of wider redevelopment opportunities for the area around the canoe lake.
Advertisements for expressions of interest to manage Waterside Pool are due to be published both locally and nationally from 4 January.
