Update from Save Radcliffe Pool - March 2014

March has been a mixed month for our campaign, starting with our presentation of the 948 signature petition to RBC's Council Meeting on the 6th March and culminating in a visit to Kenneth Clarke's surgery on Saturday 22nd March 2014. 

Kenneth Clark 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 Rushcliffe Borough Council but offered to speak to Michael Gove to get assurance that our campaign to save the pool will not jeopardise SNA's rebuild. 

On the morning of his surgery, our group received the official response from the RBC Chief Executive who advised RBC 'cannot make a financial commitment to support retaining the facility, but I am hopeful we can assist it identifying opportunities that might help achieve the petition's aspiration.'

Earlier that week, on Tuesday 18th March 2014 Radcliffe's first leisure committee meeting took place, with some parish and borough councillors present as well as representatives from the Residents Association, SNA, ROTSPA and Save Radcliffe Pool Group. The Parish Councillors started the meeting on the understanding that we all supported the proposal of new pool, however, the Save Radcliffe Pool group explained that they have not given up hope of saving the pool.

Eddy Fearon repeated what he had said at the petition submission in early March that the Borough Council are unable to support either saving the existing pool or 

building a new one and will not support a leisure centre in Radcliffe due to the perceived detrimental impact on other leisure facilities in Rushcliffe. There will be no money from Rushcliffe Borough council, as they are trying to close pools not open them, but he offered borough council input to look at funding options for a new pool.

The key question from ROTSPA and Save Radcliffe Pool group was is there actually any land for a new pool? Without land there is little point in moving forward with the committee. ROTSPA recommended a feasibility survey should take place to assess the possibility of building a new pool where SNA may offer land. SNA's Board of Governor's will contact RBC's Planning department to visit the site and make some observations of suitability for a pool and speak to a representative of Academy Trust about whether leasing land from the Trust is possible.

There was discussion about the cost of a new boiler and associated buildings that would be required if the existing pool could be saved. The meeting also discussed car parking and advised that any pool on the site would need to pay for its own parking. ROTSPA offered the possibility of funding to pay for a feasibility survey and Save Radcliffe Pool Group fed back briefly some options Carl Towner had suggested following his experience of setting up The Lenton Centre in Nottingham.

All agreed this group does not currently have a common purpose.

In the mean time, SNA's Chair Of Governor's committed to contacting RBC re: planned visit to school. School to update community of timescales from DfE for new build, SNA to ask if interested parties i.e. Save Radcliffe Pool, can be invited to any future meetings about new build and SNA to follow up with ROTSPA about i.e. how long pool can stay open.

Having recently lost two of our members, who we must thank for their time and efforts with the petition in January and February, we now require some more of the community to help with the project of researching funding/grants. Those left in the group have limited time available and so any other offers of help will be much appreciated, otherwise there may not be enough time to find out this information before the June/July planning processes in the summer. 

We look forward to hearing from some of you very soon!