Harlech pool campaigner gains minister’s agreement that free swimming should be protected

Harlech Pool campaigner Joyce Watson AM has gained agreement from the minister that free swimming at Harlech pool should be protected.

Ahead of addressing a public meeting in Harlech, Local AM Joyce Watson asked the Heritage Minister to clarify whether the new community pool will qualify for the Assembly’s free swimming scheme.

Speaking in the Assembly she said:

Joyce Watson: As I am sure you will recall, Minister, I have been involved in the Harlech swimming pool campaign, which successfully fought off the threat of closure earlier this year. Local people secured a deal with Gwynedd Council to run its community pool. However, speaking recently to members of the pool group about the Assembly’s free swimming initiative, they said that, as a community pool, rather than a local authority one, Harlech swimming pool might no longer qualify for the free swimming scheme. Will you clarify that? The whole point of the campaign was to preserve a swimming facility that served the whole community, and the group is understandably anxious to know whether it can continue to provide the community benefits that the free swimming scheme delivers.

Alun Ffred Jones: If the pool is taken out of local authority control and becomes a community asset, it will have to be done with some sort of agreement with the local authority. I cannot tell you whether the free swimming scheme would then apply, but I will certainly take this matter up with the Sports Council and write to you. I would very much hope—and I believe it would be right—that such a provision would be extended to such a community asset if it was transferred out of local authority control.

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