WHY should future generations be denied the opportunity to learn to swim that I had as a schoolboy at Temple Cowley Pools? Here is a letter I sent to councillors...

Dear councillor, I understand that some of your councillor colleagues have reservations, regarding operational viability and health and safety, if Save TCP were to take over the pool, pictured.

The case of Hampton Pool is a shining example of what such a community enterprise can achieve.

Richmond Council decided to close Hampton Pool on the grounds that the costs of maintenance and running the pool were becoming too great a burden on their budget.

Today’s letters

The users mounted a campaign to save their pool, similar to the campaign mounted by Save TCP.

In the end, they formed a charitable trust to take over the pool from the council. That was 30 years ago and it has been a roaring success.

Over that time the facility has been extensively developed. There is an integrated fitness centre to maintain all round health across the age and ability spectrum.

The trust has the additional expense of maintaining the year round water temperature of an open air pool. TCP, as an indoor pool, would not have to bear such a cost. The point is that a valued community asset has been retained and developed at no cost to the council.

In the case of TCP, it could be said that the council would be foregoing the opportunity cost of selling the site to a housing developer. But at what cost to the health and happiness of the community! Ideally, the council should be promoting such an enterprise. If the council has reservations, they should send someone to report on how Hampton Pool is run as a community enterprise.

Tell him, or her, to take their swimming costume. I have swum at Hampton Pool on a bitterly cold morning.

The heated water creates a micro-climate in the surrounding area, so one does not have to be a hardy soul to stand around the pool. No wonder it is so well used. TCP, run as a community enterprise, could be equally successful.

If the message can be got across to council members, that this asset, with enormous benefits to the health and happiness of the community, can be retained and developed, at no cost to the council of maintaining or running it.

Any cost-benefit analysis, taking that into consideration. would show a that a decision to retain both the asset and the money to be a “no brainer”.

It would be a great shame if the Cowley, and wider East Oxford, community should come to realise that the opportunity was lost to retain their cherished amenity.

John Stone
Ferry Road
Thames Ditton


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