Historic pool saved at the 11th hour
AN historic swimming pool where Olympic star Keri-Anne Payne (left) learnt the ropes has been saved from closure at the ‘11th hour’.
Castleton baths in Rochdale, which opened in 1910, has been shut since traces of Legionella were found in the showers in December.
And with refurbishment and repair costs estimated at £120,000 the pool was at risk of being closed permenantly. But now Castleton-raised businessman Nick Crewe has put up the cash to take over the running of the pool. He has set up a trust which has taken over the lease from Link4Life.
AN historic swimming pool where Olympic star KeriAnne Payne learnt the ropes has been saved from closure at the ‘11th hour’.
Castleton baths in Rochdale, which opened in 1910, has been shut since traces of Legionella were found in the showers in December.
And with refurbishment and repair costs estimated at £120,000 the pool was at risk of being closed permanently.
But now Castleton-raised businessman Nick Crewe, who runs engineering and construction firm Crewe Industrial, has put up the cash to take over the running of the pool.
He has set up a trust which has taken over the lease from Link4Life under a community asset transfer.
Work to repair the plumbing is now ongoing and it is hoped the pool will reopen next month, in time for the start of the new school year.
Dave Crouch, Beijing silver medallist Payne’s former coach at Aquabears swimming club, which is based at the pool, said: “We are really pleased and really relieved. We are also really grateful to Nick Crewe.
“We can now start getting kids back in the water, which is the main thing.”
Eric Sutton, president of Castleton Swimming Club, which was formed in 1909, said the move was ‘fantastic news’.
He added: “We have been asking questions about the future of the pool since December and not had any answers, but now we know its future is secure. It’s fantastic news.
“The children of Castleton can now get back in the pool and we can start our lessons again.
“It’s good for the club, it’s good for the schools, who have been paying for transport costs to take the kids to Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale and it’s good news for Castleton because the pool is also going to be opened up to the public for the first time in a long while.”
Castleton councillor Billy Sheerin, who helped set up the community asset transfer, said: “Castleton Pool has not only been saved, but now has a bright new future that several months ago was only a dream, with the stark reality of demolition looming large.
“The pool was saved at the proverbial 11th hour due to the desire and hard work of many, especially those who believe in Castleton and its regeneration.”