He commented, like Cllr Cutts had done previously, that he couldn't see why the building could not be moved a few metres to stay clear of the pool, however he thought there was little chance of financial support from RBC. He offered to speak to Mr Gove to get assurance that our campaign to save the pool will not jeopardise SNA's rebuild.
After our meeting, Mr Clarke contacted SNA directly to talk to them about our concerns and sent us the following response:
'Thank you very much for coming to see me about the problem of the future of the swimming pool at the South Notts Academy in Radcliffe on Trent. Obviously everybody wants the new school built and it is difficult for the Member of Parliament to play much part in the decision about the grants available, the finances of the Academy and their future plans for the school's development. I have taken up the points you discussed with me with the school and I will go on to take it up with the Secretary of State for Education if their arguments raise issues with which he might be persuaded to be helpful. I will also see if the Borough Council is prepared to contemplate having a hand in maintaining a pool in Radcliffe, although I have no control over them, and they face very practical difficulties over their leisure centre policy.'
We will keep in touch with Kenneth Clarke, particularly around the time when SNA are going to submit their plans to Rushcliffe Borough Council (possibly June/July 2014). In the mean time we will be staying in close contact with SNA to keep in the loop with progress on the procurement stage of the rebuild and ask to be involved with any feasibility study meetings that the village's leisure committee had suggested take place. The planning stage may naturally fall behind schedule as these processes tend to do, regardless of any issues that we happen to be facing. The Save Radcliffe Pool group will also continue to investigate future management and funding of the pool if it were to be saved.
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