The borough's axed premiere training pool may re-open in January, it has been confirmed.The pool, at Waltham Forest College, in Forest Road, Walthamstow, was closed in September as operator Greenwich Leisure Ltd was not prepared to fund it any longer and the college is unable to divert cash needed for teaching.
But another company, Active Leisure Management (ALM), is now in talks with the college and the Friends of the Pool (FOTP) about re-opening the facility in January.
ALM believes it can keep costs down by opening the pool for six to eight hours and charging groups including FOTP and Walthamstow Tritons to use it.
John Allan, ALM director, says it would be too costly to open it to the general public, but swimmers could join the groups to use the pool.
He said: “ I had a look at it and it is a quality building, the pool is fit for use, everything is ready to go. It is such shame it is not being used. We are trying our best to come up with a plan, we don't need to make a lot of money from it because we don't have shareholders.”
FOTP, which has been paying £300 a month for the maintenance of the chemicals in the pool, says the facility is unique in Waltham Forest in offering unrestricted lane swimming.
Nick Wadham-Smith, FOTP member, said, “The college has been supportive and we are delighted that the hard work of a community group and a college may have a fantastic result for the community.”
Peter Glasgow, Waltham Forest College vice-principal, said he was “pretty confident” the pool will re-open soon. He said, “We see it as a community resource. We were not happy about it closing and if we can bring other people in to work with them to get the pool used that is great.”
The college intended to close the pool two years ago but a council-brokered, part-subsidised deal with Greenwich Leisure Ltd, which expired in June, gave it a reprieve.
An expected redevelopment of the college, which would have seen the pool demolished, did not happen for financial reasons.
Council leader Chris Robbins has ruled out any further subsidy from the taxpayer.
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