Somerset Council has been awarded £316,700 of grant funding from Phase 2 of the government’s Swimming Pool Support Fund (SPSF). 

It is the second instalment of ringfenced money from Sport England and National Lottery funding that will be used to install new energy efficiency measure in four Somerset leisure centres.

Frome and Wells leisure centres will get new swimming pool covers and photovoltaic panels installed on the roof.

Chard leisure centre and Goldenstones leisure centre in Yeovil will have destratification fans installed that will circulate trapped hot air from the top of rooms down to the bottom.

Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, Lead Member for Communities, Housing and Culture, said: “We welcome this exciting grant funding from Sport England and the National Lottery and look forward to working with these leisure centres to invest in these crucial energy efficiency measures.

“Sustainability is a core value for us, and these upgrades will not only future-proof our buildings but also significantly reduce their environmental impact.

“We’re delighted that residents will soon have access to facilities equipped with cutting-edge technology, promoting both physical health and overall wellbeing.”

Councillor Dixie Darch, Lead Member for Environment and Climate Change said: “We’re committed to doing what we can to make Somerset a greener, more sustainable place.

“To have these energy saving measures installed at no cost to the Council is fantastic news, and possible thanks to the hard work of staff bidding for grants like this.”

Somerset council were given £211,208 in November 2023 as part of the SPSF scheme that was used to support five other swimming pool facilities across Somerset including the Shepton Mallet Lido and Burnham’s swim and sport academy.

The aim of the government’s SPSF scheme is to aid and promote local swimming after investigations found that 30% of publicly accessible swimming pools, over 1,200 pools, are over 40 years of age, and that by 2030 75% of local authorities could be permanently or temporarily closed.