I'm encouraged to hear what happened at Hampton. With some enthusiasm we could have a great facility in Wycombe. I spent many happy hours at Holywell Mead when my children were younger.
There is a huge potential for a tidy open air facility. The alternative - a run down, graffiti-daubed relic would be a tradegy.
When moving to the area from Dorset we were thrilled to find an open air pool, what a rare and wonderful facility.
Our dismay that it is now closed almost equals the excitement of discovering it in the first place.
Maybe the fact that we had to "Discover" it could point to why it lost money. No advertising, no banners, no events, no galas, in fact nothing to encourage use at all.
The councillors who conspired to get this pool closed must have been doing so for some time, a run down pool is easier to close than a thriving one after all.
I hope the Pool Trust succeeds in getting the pool re-opened and I hope their potential success story will make those councillors realise the mistake they have made.
The pool must not close - outdoor swimming is fantastic, refreshing, great fun and a stress reliever for us all!!!
Open air pools in the UK can be successful. Hampton Pool in SW London celebrates its 25th Season this year operated as a charity "not for profit" organisation. 1,490 people swam on Christmas morning, part of the 130,000 admissions each year.
Hampton pool was closed by the council in 1981 and was reopened by the community in 1985. It has grown in popularity and is now open 365 days per year providing health and enjoyment for the residents of Richmond, Kingston, Teddington, Hampton and the surrounding area.
Holywell Mead is a fine resource with a great deal of potential.
Plans should be made how to open not why to close.
Good Luck.
Closing the pool is one of those decisions that future generations will shake their heads at in disbelief. What an embarrassing legacy to leave behind. It's so depressing that the most imaginative response the council can deliver in a time of economic downturn is to cut off funding to a valuable resource.
Obviously the council is short of funds so why not use Holymead as an opportunity to make money rather than locking the gates?
how much is it costing uxbridge to re open ther out door pool after it was closed and fell in to a haven for vandels wake up wycombe council and look into the furture before it comes the eye sore of the rye
I'm not quite sure how closing the pool will save that much money, it must be a fairly small part of the council's annual budget. If anything they should be promoting it as a tourist attraction. There aren't enough outdoor pools as it is, so why close this one?
I hope to be able to enjoy the excellent facility again. In the meantime I'm off to the polling booth!
I hope the conservatives councilors who voted to close this pool are repaid for this at the next local elections by being voted out of office .
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