Sawbridgeworth community joined by cross-party councillors in campaign to save Leventhorpe Pool and Gym from closure

The community in Sawbridgeworth is gearing up for a battle to save the town’s swimming pool from closure – for the sake of residents’ mental health and wellbeing.

Petitions have been launched by the town council and a resident after the shock news that the shared-use pool and gym at Leventhorpe School is to close on Sunday December 22.

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

The other 40% comes from the Education and Skills Funding Agency, sponsored by the Department for Education (DfE), and was ringfenced specifically for school use of the pools. That funding is being withdrawn, meaning the pool and gym can no longer afford to operate.

There is a similar arrangement in Ware, at Fanshawe Pool and Gym at Chauncy School, which is also set to close before Christmas.

Hertford and Stortford Labour MP Josh Dean wrote to children and families minister Janet Daby asking what financial support was available for school-owned leisure centres that have had DfE funding removed.

She responded that some councils have applied for ‘exceptional circumstances’ funding, but the DfE was not in a position to confirm how that funding will operate for 2025-26, but “will do so in due course”.

Two swimming teachers spoke in the public forum at Monday’s town council meeting in support of the pool, with one describing it as a “holistic place” which helps people’s mental health.

Kym Borland, who teaches at Leventhorpe pool and at Grange Paddocks Leisure Centre in Bishop’s Stortford, stressed there was a big difference between the two.

“Grange Paddocks is just bums on seats,” she said. “Leventhorpe is a more holistic place – it’s much more of a sensory place.

“There is a need in this community for Leventhorpe – for our wellbeing and mental health.”

Her colleague Zoë Brace-Day told councillors Leventhorpe was a “much nicer place than Grange Paddocks” and questioned why the Sawbridgeworth pool was empty at periods during the day.

“It’s a nice atmosphere and all of the staff work well together,” she said. “If it was used properly it would be making more money – it’s almost like it’s been made to fail.”

Residents who attended the meeting in the council chamber at Sayesbury Manor, Bell Street, were provided with a FAQ sheet with background information which outlined the cost of running the pool and stressed the only realistic solution for keeping it open was to secure central government funding.

In a Facebook post, Cllr Eric Buckmaster, a member of the town, district and county councils, said: “With the [DfE] funding ending, the school could not afford to pay the 40%, which they cannot take from their educational activities.

“East Herts [Council] cannot fund education. I have asked whether there could be a different operating model, with reduced hours, but the costs for heating etc would be the same.”

At Monday’s town council meeting, he revealed he had been aware of the funding issues in the summer and attended a meeting in July, when it was decided an announcement on closure needed to be made.

“During the summer holiday we were trying to find a solution,” he said. Although stressing central government funding was the only way forward, he added: “We just need to keep fighting and all the help from the public is welcome.”

Resident Dave Mascall launched his change.org petition after hearing of the impending closure. His sessions at the pool and gym, along with a change in diet, led to him losing 8st (50kg).

“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,” said Dave, whose petition has been signed by 2,300 people. The town council’s change.org petition has 2,000 signatories.

On Saturday (Nov 2), a “big community group photo” will be held outside Leventhorpe pool in support of the campaign to fight its closure, with county, district and town councillors present.