Plans for new 25-metre pool in Haslingden

Talks regarding the replacement of Haslingden Baths are now centring on creating a 25-metre pool and teaching pool alongside the £1.3million expansion of the town’s sports centre in Helmshore Road which opened last October.

Plans for a 50-metre pool now appear to have been abandoned and the fate of the East Bank Avenue baths seems to be sealed.

Investigations are still ongoing into the possible financing of the new baths, with the prospect of grants being obtained from Sport England thought to be remote.

Question marks were raised about the future of leisure services in the valley when it was revealed that Rossendale Leisure Trust faced a funding black hole.

Concerned residents mounted the ‘Save Our Pools’ campaign, amid worries over the future of both Haslingden’s pool and the Marl Pits baths in Rawtenstall.

Emergency funding was found to stabilise the leisure trust but councillors warned that watertight proposals were needed to safeguard the futures of the baths, Bacup Leisure Hall and Ski Rossendale.

Scouting missions have now been lined up to examine how other north-west towns have built replacement pools.

Council communities manager Mike Riley says in a pool review report: “In order to complete further research about the swimm-ing pool design, a smaller group has arranged visits to recent pool builds in Saddleworth and Middleton.

“Further visits are being explored, including Chester, and a detailed session looking at a number of developments in Tameside.”

Under a similar review of options for the management of Bacup Leisure Hall, Burnley Road, three altern-atives have been pencilled in.

Either the hall could managed by a community group, sold off to a private concern or closed and used for other devices, including education or housing projects.

Currently the leisure trust is running at a budget deficit of just under £100,000, year-to-date figures show, with the worst losses, of £66,600, being borne by Ski Rossendale.