Club’s ‘relief’ at news pool will be repaired
THE news that the Loch Centre swimming pool will be repaired has come as a “huge relief” to Tranent Amateur Swimming Club’s (TASC) head coach.
East Lothian Council has set aside £5 million of its 2024 budget to repair the pool, which closed last January due to a fault with the roof, with repairs to be carried out over three years.
Since the closure, TASC has been forced to use other pools, including those at the Mercat Gait and Musselburgh Sports Centre, for training.
In December last year, TASC head coach Julia Taylor called on the public to “make as much noise as possible” to ensure that funds were found
to get the pool open again.
Following the news that repairs would be carried out, she told the Courier that all those involved with the club were relieved.
She said: “It is a huge relief and we are really looking forward to getting back to training at our home pool.
“I know it’s not immediate but the fact that the money has been found, and we know that it is definitely going to happen, is such good news.
“We will continue to provide sessions for all our squads and are lucky to be able to continue to use Mercat Gait and Musselburgh Sports Centre until the Loch Centre has been repaired.”
Musselburgh Sports Centre continues to be used by Musselburgh Amateur Swimming Club (MASC), alongside
TASC. A spokesperson for MASC welcomed the news that funding had been secured to repair the Loch Centre, but said that more had to be done to ensure the future of pools across the county.
They said: “The Loch Centre is home to TASC, one of three vital grassroots competitive swimming clubs in the East Lothian swimming pathway, alongside MASC and Haddington.
“Collectively, these clubs play a crucial role in producing world class athletes.
“Following the closure, pool time has been at a premium in East Lothian, and currently there is not enough availability for all three clubs to offer a full training schedule.
“Although the repair works are expected to take a minimum of three years, this announcement is still a major boost for swimming clubs in the region.
“It will significantly ease the demand on other pools and allow TASC to plan with greater certainty around future growth and member retention.
“Whilst this announcement is an extremely welcome development, the closure of the Loch Centre has highlighted the devastating impact the loss of such facilities can have on local communities.
“It is essential that adequate resources are allocated to ensure our other remaining pools in East Lothian are safeguarded too.”
The closure of the centre has highlighted the impact the loss of such facilities can have on communities