Resident who was helped to lose 8st by swimming and exercising at Leventhorpe Pool and Gym launches petition against closure

A Sawbridgeworth man who lost 8st (50kg) by exercising regularly at the town’s pool and gym said he was shocked when he heard the facility is due to close in December.

Dave Mascall lost the weight through diet and by swimming and working out at the pool and gym at Leventhorpe Leisure Centre. Last Thursday (Oct 24) he received a communication from centre service provider Everyone Active that it was closing on December 22 due to central government funding being withdrawn.

“I was in total shock and really upset,” the 53-year-old told the Indie.

“As someone who grappled with serious weight issues for the most part of my adult life, I owe a significant part of my health transformation to Leventhorpe swimming pool and gym.

“Physical diligence isn’t just good for the body; there are also many mental benefits. This was profoundly evident during my weight loss journey.

“Leventhorpe pool and gym are not just a valuable asset for the fitness benefits, but also for the sense of community they nurture – all of which are under threat.”

He told the Indie that when he first joined the pool and gym he could not swim a length – three years on, he completes 64 lengths in 45 minutes before work.

“It really helps with my fitness and my mental wellbeing as I also suffer with anxiety,” said Dave, adding that the thought of relocating to Grange Paddocks heightened his anxiety.

As a former student of Leventhorpe School in Cambridge Road, Dave learned to swim there.

He has launched a change.org petition to try to save the pool and gym from closure. It has so far received 2,250 signatures and he is hopeful it can make a difference.

Sawbridgeworth-based Whoosh Explore Canoe Club also posted on Facebook about the closure, saying cuts to such services affect swimming instructors, lifeguards and potentially small businesses that can survive only by hiring small pools.

“As a canoe club we’re regularly looking for pool space for putting boats into for development of safety skills,” the club said. “When we ask the price of hire on a larger pool we either need to have a large number of paddlers willing to come along or charge excessive amounts to make pool sessions viable.

“Taking this into account when looking at the relatively small savings that the council will save by not having a community resource needs to be considered.”

The pool and gym are owned by Leventhorpe School. East Herts Council (EHC) contributes 60% of the £315,000-a-year running and maintenance costs so residents can have access out of school hours.

There is a similar arrangement in Ware, at Fanshawe Pool and Gym at Chauncy School, which is also set to close before Christmas. Like Leventhorpe, it relies on funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency, which is being withdrawn, meaning the school cannot afford to operate the pool and gym.

Sawbridgeworth Town Council has also launched a change.org petition “urgently” calling on the Government to reinstate the financial support.