Public swimming time at Bakewell Pool could be cut

Public swimming time at a community pool could be reduced if a proposal to increase the number of classes there is upheld.

As part of Derbyshire Dales District Council’s Leisure Services Review, the authority is considering increasing the amount of time at Bakewell Pool, in Granby Road, dedicated to training, such as swimming lessons and courses. This would mean members of the public would need to travel to Arc Leisure, in Matlock, to swim during these times.

Members of the council’s Community Committee discussed the proposal alongside other suggestions put forward in an effort to increase efficiency of leisure services and save money.

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Ashley Watts, head of community development for the authority, said: “The recommendation was about increasing the level of courses and classes there, ensuring that some public access is still available, but increasing the level of training courses and swimming lessons.”

He said that classes were particularly popular at Bakewell Pool.

Mr Watts added: “We’ve got to reduce the bottom line. There’s a huge demand for swimming lessons at Bakewell.

“There’s a number of factors before we even consider going into this.”

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He explained that the proposal to transfer services from Bakewell to Matlock had been put forward to the Community Committee as an example of suggestions made to save money in leisure services, however admitted the idea has not been dismissed by the authority.