Peterborough swimming club faces ongoing challenge to find a swimming pool

Members of the City of Peterborough Swimming Club (COPS) are preparing to mark their 90th birthday with a Celebration Ball later this year knowing that they face a struggle to find anywhere to swim in 2027.

The alarm has been sounded after it was revealed that the Jack Hunt Swimming Pool, in Ledbury Road, Netherton, is to be closed for at least 24 weeks from next spring while a much-needed £3.8 million revamp is carried out.

But that work is being carried out as the indoor pool in Whittlesey is closed for much of the year as an £18 million refurbishment takes place at the leisure centre.

And construction of Peterborough’s much heralded £36 million eight-lane indoor swimming pool on the Embankment will not start until later next year with completion not expected until 2028.

It is hoped the new facility will replace the former Regional Pool that was closed two years ago and later demolished.

Morgan Stevenson, co-chairman of City of Peterborough Swimming Club, said: "It is very challenging to be using only Stanground until other pool space can be secured.

"We have two pretty miserable levers to pull: remove choice in our program when our swimmers make their season and/or increase the distance for members to travel to use other pool facilities.

"I wonder what the reaction from the wider city would be if over 50 per cent of the local football pitches were deemed in need of renovation and they were shut for a whole season?

“What would the hundreds of young football players feel?

"How would the many local clubs manage that? Its extremely challenging for any local sports club run by volunteers to manage this type of disruption.”

Mr Stevenson said that each of the repair projects on its own was a positive step investment the city badly needs.

He said: "But having them land at the same time is an additional stress for the club and its members.

"We're working with the council and other pool operators to secure more pool time to fill the gap.

"The Lido is one option, if we can make it work financially, or with some added heating in the changing areas to support us using it as it gets colder while Jack Hunt is being refurbished.

"Our other big ask is to everyone involved in the refurbishment: please do your best work, and try to finish ahead of schedule.

“Every day we get back will have a big impact on our swimmers' development."

The refurbishments to the 1970s-built Jack Hunt pool will involve modernisation of the plant room, replacing lighting, renewing the pool tank, refurbishing changing rooms for improved accessibility and inclusivity, upgrading the air handling system, and implementing fire safety enhancements.

Mr Morgan said: “It is hugely frustrating to lose access to another pool, even when we understand why.

"This is the cost of years of underinvestment in the city's aquatics facilities catching up with us all at once.

"We're doing everything we can to manage it, and we'd welcome any help or support from the local business community as we work through this.

He added: “We welcome the council's investment in Jack Hunt, the air circulation, filtration and roof issues have needed attention for some time, and we've been raising this with the the operator and council.”

Celebrating 90 years in the pool:

Mr Stevenson said: "This year in particular should be a big year to celebrate!

This year COPS turns 90, and we're marking it with a Celebration Ball in association with Junction 17 on September 26th at the Holiday Inn Peterborough West.

It's a chance to celebrate nine decades of the club and raise much-needed funds to help us keep running while we navigate losing pool space..

Everyone's welcome to buy a ticket or a table, enjoy an evening of fun, and support a key part of Peterborough's sporting legacy. Please contact [email protected]"