Thanks to Tony Steyger for this report from last night’s meeting, held to discuss the future of the Waterside Pool in Ryde. Ed
Last night (Thursday), despite sub zero temperatures and treacherous ice, over 50 people attended an angry evening meeting at the Waterside Cafe on Ryde seafront, voting unanimously to oppose the closure of Ryde Swimming Pool.
Organised spontaneously by Ryde resident Lesley Bull, the meeting was a remarkable display of community feelings on such a bitter night and locals and campaigners were joined by three of Ryde’s town councillors who advised on tactics for the fightback.
Closure would be a disaster
Apart from being entirely at odds with the Government’s plans to promote a healthy population, several people argued that the proposal to have an empty pool complex on the seafront would be a disaster for both tourists and islanders.
Lynne Harkins insisted that this was time for the community to have their say, whilst Tony Kelly suggested that “the banks should be made to suffer for this national funding crisis, and not us. The pool is a little bit of civilisation and it was money from the early Isle of Wight pop festivals that helped pay for its construction”. (Listen to interview with IW Festival organiser Ray Foulk, where this is mentioned).
Variety of users
Amongst the current users are 16 schools that regularly use the pool for swimming lessons and several elderly and disabled groups taking part in organised session.
However, not everyone was happy with the way the pool had been run, citing poor management and an inflexibility towards new ideas. One resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, suggested that the pool certainly needed saving but not by the council, preferring a private solution.
Supporters urged to attend meeting and rally
All were agreed that a significant display of public feeling was urgently needed.
Anyone interested in helping the campaign to save Ryde Pool is urged to attend the Ryde Town Council meeting on Monday 6th December at 7pm in Garfield Road and at the mass Unison Rally outside County Hall in Newport on Tuesday 7th December at 5pm.
Image of Ryde in the snow: © Used with the kind permission of Lucy Boynton
