Pools across Lincolnshire will join more than 300 in England that are set to benefit from the £60.5 million Phase II of the Swimming Pool Support Fund (SPSF), which aims to help boost facilities energy efficiency and keep running costs down to ensure their long term financial sustainability.

£2.5m of funding has been awarded to eight pools in the county. The money comes from the second phase of the government's Swimming Pool Support Fund, which sees £60 million of exchequer and National Lottery Funding split between 325 pools in more that 250 local authorities. The grants in this second phase will help to fund projects such as installing solar panels, pool covers, LED lighting and improving insulation. With the increase in energy costs over recent years, the Government announced the fund a year ago with the intention of both helping keep pools open in the face of financial challenges, as well as funding longer-term projects to help reduce future energy bills.

The money is supporting local leisure centre pools in Lincolnshire as well as smaller community pools including Wragby Swimming Pool, and Jubilee Park Lido, Woodhall Spa. Yarborough Leisure Centre is the biggest beneficiary in Lincolnshire, receiving over £600,000 for new solar panels and variable speed fans.

The full list of pools to receive funding in Lincolnshire is:

• Yarborough Leisure Centre, Lincoln, £614,350
• Meridian Leisure Centre, Louth, £591,173
• Grantham Meres Leisure Centre, Grantham, £445,725
• West Lindsey Leisure Centre, Gainsborough, £401,500
• Princess Royal Sports Arena, Boston, £203,858
• One NK, North Hykeham, £165,713
• Wragby Swimming Pool, Wragby, £59,023
• Jubilee Park, Woodhall Spa, £57,258
  

Sport England, Executive Director of Place, Lisa Dodd-Mayne commented:

Swimming pools and leisure centres are vital community resources and are enormously important in helping people to be physically active. Many pools have faced a real and significant threat to their survival this year, as local authorities and operators have battled the challenge of increased energy and wider costs, weakened reserves and difficulties with retaining staff. Sport England is proud of the role we’ve played in supporting these facilities through this difficult period

Emma Tatlow, Active Lincolnshire CEO said:

Swimming pools are one of the vital assets of community activity provision, providing an environment for children to learn an essential life skill, families to come together to be active and enjoy together and clubs enabling swimmers to train. It is great to see this investment in Lincolnshire swimming pools, to enable them to remain open and available for Lincolnshire residents. Loss through closure of pools and public leisure facilities would have a significant impact on the wellbeing of our communities.

Furthermore, some pools are utilising the funding to install solar panels that will result in reduced energy – saving both financially and reducing the impact on the environment. We know that not all pools in Lincolnshire have received funding through this programme, and will continue to offer support and signpost all community facilities to support to enable them to provide a relevant and resilient offer to the people of Lincolnshire.

The first phase of the Swimming Pool Support Fund was distributed in November last year with One NK, Sleaford Leisure Centre and Grantham Meres Leisure Centre receiving £371,469 between them to support them with operating costs. This first round of funding supported pools at risk of closure or service reductions due to soaring energy bills and operational costs share £20 million to help pay for immediate maintenance, heating and pool chemicals.

image top: Jubilee Park Lido, Woodhall Spa