Desperate £50,000 Appeal To Save Acocks Green School Pool Which ...

Desperate £50,000 appeal to save Acocks Green school pool which is at risk of closing

Local people and users have launched a £50,000 JustGiving appeal to save Archbishop Ilsley School swimming pool in Acocks Green from closing because it needs so many repairs

NewsJane Tyler05:30, 08 Oct 2019Updated 11:01, 08 Oct 2019

A £50,000 appeal has been launched to stop a popular and well-used Birmingham swimming pool from closing.

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The pool at Archbishop Ilsley School in Acocks Green is at risk of shutting completely because it needs so many repairs.

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It has been in use since 1973 and is used by the school and also the community.

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Users have started a JustGiving appeal to find the £50,000 needed for the repairs so it can stay open. It was launched on October 1 and currently stands at more than £6,500.

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They say although the pool isn't "fancy or posh" it is a vital part of the community, with over 3,000 people using it last year.

The JustGiving post says: "With such high usage, it has become inevitable that our pool has succumbed to years of wear and tear, suffering with internal leaks for the last 18 months.

"In the summer holidays, we did some investigations and have found a serious leak in the pipe underneath the deck area.

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"As a result of these investigations we have had to close the pool."

To re-open the pool, it will have to be dug up, the leak repaired, and then the concrete and tiles be re-laid - which will all "come at a substantial cost".

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PE and swimming teacher, Rachel Lloyd, who started the JustGiving appeal, said the school had some funding towards the repair, but more was needed to plug the gap.

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"Our pool isn't fancy or posh, but it is an excellent teaching pool and thousands of our pupils, and pupils from neighbouring primary schools, have benefited from learning to swim in it," she said.

"It is a fantastic resource that teaches children to swim, a life skill that is so important."

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The pool has also been used to teach children from the poorest backgrounds to swim for free.

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As well as pupils, the pool is used by local people, swimming schools and groups such as scouts and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme.

Rachel said: "The pool is being sadly missed by our community groups that use it too.

"The scouts have used it weekly since 1984 and various parish groups. All are hoping that the pool is up and running soon!"

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As well as the JustGiving appeal, the school is also organising fund-raising events, and approaching local businesses and organisations.

Archbishop Ilsley's appeal echoes that of Moseley Road Baths, where a public campaign managed to save that from closing.

To donate to the JustGiving appeal, please click here and follow the links.