Daisyfield Pools closure confirmed despite swimmers' pleas

Shelley Whitehead from HalfFISH, which has operated the building since 2016, said there was a will to retain the pools and more than 500 swimmers who used them would be left high and dry.

However, Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive board on Thursday confirmed the ending of the arrangement with the organisation and the shutting of the pools on health and safety grounds last month.

The closure followed the discovery of harmful Legionella bacteria in its systems and an inspection by council officers which 'highlighted numerous issues with the condition of the building and the operation of the centre'.

Daisyfield Pools has been closed for good

The decision left some of the 30 swimmers and supporters who attended the meeting in tears.

The closure was opposed by Conservative group leader Cllr John Slater who said: "It is absolutely disgraceful how we got to this situation.

"We own the building. If there was a political will to help these people we could have done it."

The authority's health and leisure boss Cllr Damian Talbot said: "I know there are many pool users who are sad that the pool has to close.

"But I think it has been accepted the decision made on August 18 was the right one.

"Ultimately this is the council's building and the council must give priority to public health and safety.

"We are confident we can accommodate the school swimming lessons as there is still some capacity at Blackburn Leisure Centre."

Cllr Talbot said the council could not afford the £71,000 needed to refurbish the pool plant and £3.1 million more required for wider building repairs to keep the pools operational in the short term.

Ms Whitehead said HalfFISH had completed at the maintenance and paperwork it was required to undertake under its agreement with the council - a claim Cllr Talbot disputed.

She told the meeting: "In August the whole organisation, customers, staff, and volunteers were devastated to have closure forced upon us.

"We have created a programme that is full to capacity that is not provided anywhere in the borough or the locality.

"The conditions report highlights work that needs to be done on the building – this can be done and could have been done earlier in

"The work can be done, and the pool kept open. There is a will to keep this pool open.

"With partnership working we can save the pool for the community and provide a much needed asset to the town."

Council leader Cllr Phil Riley told the meeting: "It would be utterly irresponsible to keep the pool open.

"It would have been case of corporate manslaughter if someone had died."

After the meeting Ms Whitehead said: "We are very upset."

The council will now go out to consult on the future of the building.