Issue - meetings

To close the pool at the end of the school term in December while further investigations can be undertaken as to potential solutions to remedy the health and safety concerns.

The Executive Member for Wellbeing presented the recommendation about the closure of the Ward Freman pool in Buntingford. She said that shortly after the administration were elected, they were made aware that the Ward Freman pool needed several repairs and there was concern about the filtration system and the tiles on the pool. There had been increased testing of the water quality at the pool and the council were recently informed that the risk was too great to leave the pool open after December 2023.

The Executive Member for Wellbeing said that the costs of repairs were high and questions had been asked whether the filtration system could be repaired. She said that the advice she had received said that this would require a complete replacement of the filtration system which would require the pool to be drained and there were concerns about the sides of the pool potentially collapsing without the pressure of the water.

The Executive Member for Wellbeing said she had visited Buntingford to present the problems with the pool and to gather feedback from residents. She said that there was a petition gathering signatures from residents to keep the pool open which currently had about 1,000 signatures. She said, on behalf of residents, that she felt angry and disappointed that pool had not been maintained by both the Conservative administrations of East Herts Council and Herts County Council. She added that a lack of repairs under the Conservative administrations meant much high costs now and money had been spent on a large car park in Bishop’s Stortford and new leisure centres in the larger towns with the smaller towns missing out.

The Executive Member for Wellbeing said this had put the new administration in an incredibly challenging and unwanted position to try and fund the upgrades to the pool. She said they were determined to find a solution to the funding issues and said that the residents of Buntingford felt strongly about this matter. She said despite the current situation, she had had amazing offers of help from the residents of Buntingford and would use the next few months to explore funding options with Herts County Council and other partners to help resolve the issue.

Councillor Hopewell proposed that the recommendation in the report be supported. Councillor Goldspink seconded the proposal.

Councillor Brittain said the closure of the pool was a total blow to Buntingford and he echoed what the Executive Member for Wellbeing had said. He thanked the residents of Buntingford who came to the presentations and shared good ideas and it was heartening to see the community coming together to offer help and support. He said he wanted to assure residents that the administration will continue to work with residents to find a solution and hoped that the pool would reopen soon.

Councillor Goldspink said she supported the recommendation but was dismayed and angry at the situation. She supported the recommendation in order to keep residents safe and wondered if there was any merit  ...  view the full minutes text for item 222