Community-funded refurbishment secures future of SpArC swimming pool

A swimming pool built through public subscription more than 50 years ago has reopened following a major refurbishment programme made possible by a huge community fundraising effort and investment from Shropshire Council.

Appointed by Shropshire Council, Alliance Leisure has delivered the £1.15 million refurbishment of the swimming pool and pool hall at Bishop's Castle Leisure and Arts Centre, better known as Sports and Arts in the Community (SpArC), a vital community facility serving rural communities across south-west Shropshire since 1974.

The refurbishment is expected to reduce annual operating costs by approximately £12,000 while increasing participation and attracting up to 30 per cent more users, helping to secure the long-term sustainability of the facility.

Owned by the Council and operated by the Shropshire Community Leisure Trust, SpArC shares its site with Bishop's Castle Community College. At the heart of the centre is a 20 metre, four-lane swimming pool used by six local primary schools to achieve national curriculum swimming requirements, as well as by the wider community. The centre also offers a sports hall, fitness gym, arts studio and gallery space.

SpArC benefits from significant local support. In recent years, trustees have secured and invested more than £250,000 into projects including a gym, café, pocket park and improvements to the centre's arts and theatre provision. With the need to modernise the ageing pool, the trustees raised an additional £250,000 to fund a new pool liner and easy-access steps with handrails and guardrails, replacing traditional ladder steps that presented challenges for older users and people with disabilities.

Sarah Marston, Shropshire Council's Cabinet member for community and environment, said: "This is such a good example of how funding from the council and from housing developers can be added to grant funding and money raised by the local community to make a real difference to a local community.

"People in Bishop's Castle and across southwest Shropshire will have a pool that they can be proud of, and one that will be more cost effective to operate and accessible for all."

The project addressed a number of critical issues affecting the pool's viability. The existing tank required continual repairs and was nearing the point where significant structural failure could occur without intervention; it has now been reprofiled and relined with a durable waterproof finish. The ageing filtration system has been replaced, including new plant equipment, buried pipework, skimmers, sumps and water inlets. Further improvements include renewal of lane rope anchors, static water level rails, reinstatement of the pool hoist and structural bases to support a future pool cover system.

Procuring through the UK Leisure Framework, owned and managed by Denbighshire Leisure Ltd, allowed the project team to appoint design and construction specialists experienced in complex leisure projects. Led by Alliance Leisure, the team included Universal Group as principal contractor, Bellrock providing facilities management expertise and Greenwood Projects delivering project management.

Greg Walker, Business Development Manager at Alliance Leisure, says: "This project shows what can be achieved when communities, local authorities and partners work together towards a shared goal. The upgraded pool is modern and accessible and well positioned to support future generations through children's swimming lessons, family swimming sessions, wellbeing activities and access for older adults and people with disabilities."