Villagers bid to keep swimming pool afloat

Hornby's swimming pool, where thousands of children have learned to swim since 1977, is to close at the end of March.

However, Bob McGachie, of nearby Melling village, is spearheading the community's drive to set up a trust to save the 15-metre pool for future generations.

"The strength of feeling is huge," he told the Gazette. "Thirteen schools go to it every week. They are now looking at having to go to Carnforth or Salt Ayre [leisure centre in Lancaster] which some of them are not prepared to do because it's going to take an afternoon out of the curriculum."

As reported by the Gazette, Lancaster City Council says its "perilous financial position" means it cannot afford to keep running three community pools, including Hornby, at a cost of £176,700 per year.

In Carnforth and Heysham it is hoped local schools will take on the pools.

Hornby's pool building, on Melling Road, is to be handed back to Lancashire County Council, its owner.

David Collins, of Hornby Village Trust,said: "We are determined to save it because it was built by the community for the community 40 years ago."

He said it was hoped to "shed a lot of the costs" of running the pool by moving it into a trust.

Mr McGachie said accountants were already working on a budget, and the Save Hornby Pool page on Facebook had attracted more than 300 members.

"We've found in the archives a brochure put together for the opening of the pool," said Mr McGachie, who swims twice a week at Hornby with his wife Helen. "It was a real community effort. You can see the depth of feeling there was in the community and all the companies that contributed to it."

He said the pool made a 'fantastic' difference to villagers as far afield as Wray and Arkholme, and to school children in villages like Melling and Caton. Local doctors are also reluctant to see the pool close as it offers therapeutic swimming for older people who have had knee and hip surgery.

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