Westbury’s Victorian swimming pool will be the subject of a detailed report at the area board meeting on Thursday 22nd April.
The pool, built for the people of Westbury by mill owner William Laverton in 1887, is among the county’s 23 leisure facilities currently under review by Wiltshire Council. Although no decisions have yet been taken about any of the facilities, a report about all relevant aspects of the pool was requested at the last meeting of the area board in February, with all four area board members expressing their commitment to keeping the pool open.
Russell Hawker, chairman of the Westbury area board said, “Westbury pool is very special to local people. Whilst there is not yet any final outcome from the ongoing review, we felt it was important to get on with obtaining as soon as possible a report with all the relevant information which, if necessary, would also help any campaign to keep the pool open.
“It is clear that keeping the pool open accords with many of Wiltshire Council’s aims, particularly with regard to improving the health and fitness of local people.”
Wiltshire Council cabinet member for leisure, Stuart Wheeler, will be at the area board meeting at Matravers School. The meeting starts at 7.00pm but from 6.30pm there are refreshments and a chance to meet officers and councillors.
Concerns about the future of free car parking in Westbury town centre will also be on the April agenda. Discussions between Wiltshire Council and Westbury Town Council about keeping the current two hours free parking arrangements in place are still continuing. The outcome would be temporary for one year as a major county-wide review of parking fees is ongoing as well for implementation in April 2011. A report will be presented and Wiltshire Council cabinet member for transport, Dick Tonge, will be at the meeting to answer questions.
The board will also be considering three applications for grant funding. All community area boards have an annual funding allowance which is earmarked to help projects that benefit local people. Past grants have funded projects benefitting many members of the community from allotments to sports clubs.
The Westbury area board is one of 18 area boards across the Wiltshire Council area. It covers Westbury and the villages of Bratton, Coulston, Dilton Marsh, Edington and Heywood and comprises four local councillors.
For more information on the work of the board visit www.wiltshire. gov.uk/areaboards or call community area manager Sally Hendry on 01373 864714.
