As we reported back in October, Waterside Pool is due to be handed over to The Waterside Community Trust in December. This in from the council, in their own words. Ed
The Isle of Wight Council will officially hand over Ryde’s Waterside Pool to a The Waterside Community Trust on 1 December after the successful completion of negotiations.
In December 2010, the council announced it was looking at closing the pool as part of measures to save £32m over the next four years, but was keen to explore the possibility transferring the facility to the local community.
Set up by residents
The Waterside Community Trust (WCT) was set-up by local residents after the group submitted an expression of interest and became the council’s preferred bidder to operate the pool.
Over the course of 2011, the council has worked with the WCT team while agreeing to manage the pool to ensure it remained open to the public. The local authority will also provide around £66,000 in start up costs to allow the trust to carry out refurbishment work.
“Admiration for the hard work that the Waterside Community Trust”
Councillor George Brown, Cabinet Member for economy and the environment, said “It is good to be working with a community group in developing a package of support that will allow the community to continue to provide the pool in way that meets its needs.
“I have much admiration for the hard work that the Waterside Community Trust has undertaken to develop its proposals and I am pleased that we have been able to support that process.
“We will continue to provide advice and guidance to the Trust once it has taken over the pool from December. I am confident that with this support and also of Ryde Town Council and the Ryde community as a whole, Waterside Pool will have a viable future.”
