Disappearing pools: 'A health and welfare disaster'
Public pools are shutting across the UK leaving kids nowhere to learn how to swim, and lifeguards nowhere to train.
Public swimming pools are closing across the UK, leaving many towns without a place that’s safe to swim. They’re not just a place of leisure. They offer a crucial service as a space where children can learn to swim and lifeguards can receive their training. They also provide a safe space for vulnerable people to exercise.
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News has contacted councils across the UK. One in six said that at least one swimming pool in their area has closed since 2019. Energy costs, chlorine shortages and a lack of staff are among the reasons given.
In our latest episode of our podcast 5 Minutes On, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ reporter Emily Unia travels to Cornwall to find out what happens when the only pool in town closes - and how some communities are pulling together to ensure their precious facilities stay open.
Photo credit: Julian Stratenschulte via Getty Images
