Campaign to save town swimming pool gathers momentum with support from MP Steve Barclay

The campaign to save the Empress Swimming Pool for the community of Chatteris is gathering momentum with a Gofundme page launched and written support from the local MP.

The pool in Park Road was unsold when it went under the hammer at an auction in London on Tuesday.

Chatteris Town Crier Lawrence Weetman hopes to make life difficult for any future owners who may buy the building when it goes back to auction in a month's time by having it listed as an asset of community value (ACV).

Lawrence submitted an application to Fenland District Council to have the building declared a community asset on Sunday, a move which has now gained support from MP Steve Barclay.

In a letter to Lawrence, Brexit Secretary Mr Barclay said: "I am happy to add my support for it to be listed as an Asset of Community Value with Fenland District Council.

"Chatteris is a fast-growing town. The swimming pool is an important part of the community and I understand it is used by a swimming club and two primary schools.

"I would encourage the pool to have a safeguard attached to it preventing its change of use or demolition."

Meanwhile a Gofundme page has been launched by Heather Johnson in a bid to raise £300,000 to enable the purchase of the swimming pool for the town. The page launched yesterday evening was slowly gathering support and by first thing this morning had attracted nine donations totalling £160.

Writing on the page the Heather said: "Do you want to join me in making a difference? Do you want to help to save the Empress Swimming Pool? We have one month before the next auction to try to raise as much money as we possibly can to place a bid in order to keep this in the community like Percy Rooke intended otherwise the pool will be sold to a developer and turned into flats. This pool is used by many community groups and is a lifeline in the community. Please help to save it!"

The pool was initially listed for sale by Exclusive Property UK on behalf of the owners at £500,000 last month. But when it went to auction on Tuesday with auctioneers Barnard Marcus it had a guide price of £250,000 to £350,000.

There were three bidders, one via phone and two in the room but despite bidding reaching £261,000 the pool went unsold.

Lawrence said: "It hit £261k, but didn't sell (presumably had a reserve). The auctioneers were going to try and negotiate the price with bidders, but at least one was no longer interested.

"As far as the auction goes, it was unsold. Hopefully prospective buyers now have less time pressure and can do some research, and perhaps see that a nomination for ACV status has been submitted."

If granted an ACV would mean the community would have six months to try to buy the pool.

Lawrence is hopeful his application, the first of its kind to be submitted to Fenland Council in the last three years, will be approved, given the pool's history in terms of community use, and the number of community groups including the Kingfishers Swimming Club and both the town's primary schools, and others who use it.

Well over 100 people had offered their support to Lawrence's application within hours of him announcing the move on Facebook.

To donate visit: https://www.gofundme.com/vyrrkh-a-cause-i-care-about-needs-help