Closure of city swimming pool was a 'difficult and necessary decision'

T has been confirmed that Exeter's Northbrook swimming pool is to close.

- by GUY HENDERSON Local Democracy Reporter [e-mail]

The decision was taken by the city council’s executive committee, despite months of campaigning by pool users to save it.

Council leader Phil Bialyk said it boiled down to the “cold, hard facts” that the pool is under-used and too expensive to run.

The closure will save the council more than £500,000 as it tries to make up a £3.5 million budget shortfall.

Cllr Bialyk told last week’s meeting: “We have had sleepless and troubled times over this.”

Director of city development Ian Collinson said it would cost £2.1m to bring the 100-year-old pool up to modern standards, and £686,000 had already been spent on it.