Your help needed to keep Wirksworth pool plans afloat

Wirksworth Swimming Pool has secured revised planning permission for an extension to its pool building which could provide improved changing facilities, office space and a café area.

Original plans, approved in 2013, for a side extension to the main building have been adapted to a double height extension at the front of the site. This revision has been driven by the trustees’ desire to reduce building costs – projected at £570,000 for the original design, and now down to approximately £275,000 for the new layout.

Pool manager, Glyn Booth, said: “As a self–funding charity every penny we earn, or those donated, needs to work really hard for us.

“We couldn’t justify the original build costs when an alternative option is available that can deliver what we need for less than half the price.

“The biggest challenge now is to maintain fundraising efforts to secure the finances needed for the build.

“We continue to explore grant–funding opportunities and our fantastic Friends of Wirksworth Swimming Pool fundraising team, customers and the local community are all lending a hand. All funding bodies require the community to fully endorse a project seeking to be funded, and all the fundraising events demonstrate this, as well as raising a small but important start-up fund.

“We welcome help, and ask if anyone knows of potential funding streams, or has fundraising ideas, to let us know. Anyone who would like to be part of our fundraising team is also welcome to the next meeting.”

To offer fundraising ideas please call 01629 825704 or email [email protected]

Plans for the Wirksworth Swimming Pool extension can be viewed at www.wirksworthswimmingpool.co.uk

Community–minded people are invited to join the pool’s board of trustees. The small team is looking for three new trustees.

David Baker, chairman of trustees, said: “We are keen to hear from anyone who would like to help us. No particular qualifications are required to be a trustee, but specific skill sets in finance, law, HR and/or co–ordinating and submitting grant applications would be very useful. We are also looking for one of the new trustees to become our new treasurer.”

Anyone interested in learning more about becoming a trustee of Wirksworth Swimming Pool should contact Glyn Booth on 01629 825704 or email [email protected]