Greg welcomes new pool for Newcastle East and safeguards on City Pool swimming

12.00.00pm GMT Tue 17th Nov 2009

Newcastle East Lib Dem parliamentary spokesman for Newcastle East Greg Stone has welcomed news that the new University of Northumbria pool on Northumberland Road will result in wider access to public swimming in the city centre.

The new UNN pool will be reserved for use by university students and staff at certain times, but will be open for public use and use by the Newcastle swimming club's elite swimming training sessions and for leisure uses such as Aquafit. The opening of the new pool later this year is likely to mean that public access swimming will be available in the city centre on a Sunday for the first time.

Greg has expressed the hope that all current users of the city pool's small pool will be assisted to find suitable sessions at other pools as a result of the potential Myplace youth facility development at Vine Lane, and believes that the new UNN pool will be a big help in this regard.

He said "I welcome the expansion of city centre pool space. I am however aware that there has been controversy over the Myplace proposal and I have indicated that I want to see safeguards put in place that ensure that all groups currently using the small pool can be helped to find suitable new facilities, preferably at the main City Pool or at the new UNN pool, before a final decision is taken."

"I gather that moves are already underway to transfer elite swimmer training to the new UNN pool, which offers a competition standard 25 metre tank rather than a 25 yard one, and that current Aquafit users will have a choice of using either the main pool or UNN pool, with the same instructors. Meanwhile, I hope current private school groups using the pool may be able to transfer to nearby pools at Jesmond and Fenham, helping to support these important local assets"

"I have offered my services to any groups affected by the proposed City Pool small pool closure to ensure that they are found suitable alternative sessions. I have already been in correspondence with a number of users and would invite any other groups to contact me about this matter."