Good News For City Swimmers!

Plans to revamp Shirley Swimming Pool have been given the go ahead by city planners.

On Tuesday a panel of Councillors on the Planning and Rights of Way committee approved plans for the £1.1m redevelopment of Shirley Swimming Pool, in Kentish Road, Freemantle. The new pool will include a gym and cafe.

I went along and spoke in support of the application and I am delighted that the plans were approved.

Owner, Dave Perry, also announced his plans to provide free swimming tuition for local schools, St Marks CofE Junior and Foundry Lane primary.

The new pool will be an intergral part of the redevelopment of the area. Other changes in the pipeline include a new community centre with a sports area and facilities for day care social services. Across the road I am fighting to obtain funding for the the relocation of Regents Park School to the St Marks School site and working to secure the purchase of the Civil Service Sports Ground in Stafford Road for use by the schools and local people.

Click HERE for the Southern Daily Echo report.

Community Hub For Freemantle

Earlier this month the Council approved over a £1m of funds to redevelop Freemantle Community Centre in Randoph Street. A revamped centre will for use by community groups and for adult social services provision.

I attended a meeting on Thursday to look at how we might go even further and develop the area into the community hub that local people are hoping for. Plans are now being drawn up for a lottery bid for extra money. If successful the sorts of things that might be included in the hub are; a cafe, a proper sports hall maybe with a sprung floor for martial arts and aerobics etc, landscaping of the area and measures to improve pedestrian safety.

The city council and local Councillors are working with the health centre and Shirley Pool and I am hopeful that this will come off and help transform the local area. No doubt I will post more on this over the coming months...