Features

Swimming has always been an important sport in Ipswich and we are able to count not one but two award winning swimmers amongst our local residents.

Historically, the heyday for swimming in Ipswich came in the 1960's when the town could boast two Olympic sized outdoor pools and two indoor pools.

Broomhill was very popular between the first and second world wars, something which is evident from the architecture and feel of the site, and enjoyed a period of success in the 1970's and 80's.

At its peak the pool attracted thousands of swimmers each day. But, as with many outdoor swimming facilities across the UK, lack of care and increasingly stringent health and safety regulations lead to Broomhill being closed in 2002.

Rubbish is a problem at Broomhill pool

Break ins and rubbish

Today the pool is surrounded by security signs and wire fences and is prone to break ins. Despite the presence of the original and somewhat intimidating diving boards, the water is full of rubbish and gives the site a rather sorry appearance.

The Broomhill Pool Trust, made up of very dedicated and passionate members of the local community, have worked tirelessly to get the pool restored. They are chaired by Mike Cook, who showed me around the site.

"The council agreed two years ago to fund a feasibility study for the pool which showed that there was nothing seriously wrong with the site and that it could be redeveloped," says Mike.

Mike Cook

But with the weather in Ipswich being far from summery at the moment, what makes outdoor pools so special?

"I remember as a kid going into an outdoor pool and they were just lovely days, it's probably covered over by the M20 now."

Options for the future

In today's society is there room for places like Broomhill? Can the pool really succeed this time around?

Mike explained that because the site of the pool is part of the Broomhill Park the council is bound into keeping the site for recreational use only. "To demolish the site would cost close to £600,000," adds Mike.

There is still a long way to go

Furthermore, because the site is grade two listed, any appeal to restructure the site would need to be taken to the Secretary of State for review.

"Because we have proved that the site can be restored at a minimal cost to the council tax payer no Secretary of State will sign that demolition order."

The mention of cost to the council tax payer is something which undoubtedly sits uneasily with many local residents who will question the pool's ability to make money and its positioning within a highly built up residential area.

"The residents are terrified about the car parking issue, though 85 per cent of the people that attend the pool don't have a driving licence. We are working to develop the car parking that we have here and hopefully secure a park and ride stop nearby."

As Mike explained, with the need to maintain a recreational site at Broomhill, the local council has reached the decision that redeveloping the pool is the best option and has agreed to fund a third of the £3.9 million cost for its refurbishment.

Councilor Judy Terry, Portfolio Holder for Arts, Culture and Leisure, told me that "the pool has a historical context which sets it apart. The disadvantage is that it is seasonal, though it will operate at a minimal cost to residents".

The Broomhill Trust is now working to secure an operator who will run the pool and help to provide the remaining funding.

The Heritage Lottery Fund

In September 2008 the news was announced that the Broomhill project had been unsuccessful in its bid for funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The HLF had a number of concerns about the project's funding and an apparent lack of commitment from Ipswich Borough Council.

"We had to look at the risks involved in giving money to a large project like this", explained Richard Powell, the Regional Chairman of the Heritage Lottery Fund.

"We considered the sustainability of the project itself but we also had concerns about the lack of security on some of the funding including that of the owners which is Ipswich Borough Council.

"They promised a million pounds and when we looked at the bid that was unsecured.

"There was also a lack of support for the volunteers to manage a project of this size."

The Broomhill Trust had been allocated one million pounds of funding from Ipswich Borough Council to use alongside their funds and the Heritage Lottery money and the news of the rejection came as a disappointing set back from the trust.

"It was a devastating blow, I doubt if there's anyone in Ipswich over the age of 30 whose life hasn't been affected in some way by Broomhill," said Mike Read, President of the Broomhill Pool Trust.

"We did everything humanly possible to submit a well founded proposal to save the pool, we demonstrated that people wanted it saved, we demonstrated that it could be saved at a realistic cost and we demonstrated that it could be viable."

The Trust have been supported by Ipswich Borough Council both in terms of funding and with submitting the bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund, a process which costs around £100,000.

Ipswich Borough Council have assisted a number of locations in Ipswich with their Heritage Lottery Fund bids, including Christchurch Park and more recently Holywells Park.

They chose to offer support to the Broomhill Trust in managing the pool rather than taking full charge themselves.

This decision was reached because it was felt that the council didn't have sufficient funds to fully under-write the project.

While the council will continue to offer its support to the Broomhill Trust Councilor Judy Terry admits that it does have other priorities.

"Crown Pools needs a total refurbishment and that has to come first.

"It does need a lot of work like re-roofing for example and that could be a four or five million pound project."

The trust have been given until December 2009 to raise the funds and Mike Read says that despite the set backs the trust will be pressing on.

"We can't afford to give up, if we can get this money that pool can be up and running in 9 months and we can't afford to lose a wonderful Olympic legacy."