Axminster's Flamingo Pool working to reopen as soon as possible

Axminster's Flamingo Pool is hoping to open before the end of the month following the easing of restrictions on leisure activities.

The pool, run by the Axe Valley Swimming Association, a registered charity, was forced to close during the coronavirus lockdown.

The government has announced that public indoor pools can reopen from July 25 and the Flamingo pool team, led by manager Steve Buxton, will be working out how one of the area's most popular leisure venues can meet all conditions.

Conformation of that date will be issued on social media as soon as possible.

A statement on the pool website said: "Please bear with us whilst we digest the information and work out the updated restrictions to understand how we can create a structured plan to look to move forward in a safe and responsible manner.

"We will be having ongoing meetings over the next week to discuss all this and will update you all via our social media channels as and when we can release important information."

The Axe Valley Swimming Association received a grant of £8,800 from Sport England to help meet expenses whilst the pool was closed.

The Flamingo Pool, a self-funded charity, was brought to reality by a massive community effort to raise funds following a lottery reversal of decision to fund the project.

Local residents pulled together to ensure that the project became more than just a pipe dream. A steering committee was formed and worked tirelessly to find funding for the 25m pool and the country's first 6m2 hydrotherapy pool open to the public. It has been at the heart of the community ever since.

The pool provides an eco-friendly public community swimming pool for the benefit of the residents and visitors of Axe Valley by offering the best aquatic activities in a safe and enjoyable environment, a high standard of affordable exercise, fun facilities, teaching programmes, classes and local employment opportunities. 

The six-squared-metre hydrotherapy pool with therapeutic pressure jets is open to the public and used by three local hospitals for physiotherapy and remedial use. 

The pool also offers pre-work, general, lane, off-peak and adult's swimming, family fun, inflatable parties, parent toddler and aquafit sessions, group and private one-to-one swimming lessons run to ASA standard, elite and swimming club competitive sessions. Local primary schools also use the pool for swimming lessons.

Measures set out in the government guidance for the reopening of pools include:

• Ensuring an appropriate number of people are in a swimming pool at any one time.

• Spacing out equipment or taking some out of service to maintain social distancing.

To find out more information about Flamingo Pool visit the website at www.flamingopool.co.uk