Newcastle Labour has delivered the investment and refurbishment needed to bring Elswick Pool back into use, with the keys to the much-loved West End facility now handed over to the community.
The milestone follows years of work by Newcastle’s Labour-led council alongside local campaigners and volunteers to secure a sustainable future for the pool.
After Elswick Pool closed in 2015 amid severe pressure on council finances, Labour worked with the community to find a new way of operating the facility rather than allowing it to be lost permanently.
That work has now resulted in the council completing the major recommissioning programme necessary to get the building ready to reopen, before handing responsibility for its day-to-day operation to Elswick Community Pool.
The Labour council’s programme has included repairs to the swimming pool itself, which has now been refilled with fresh water, together with work on the water-treatment systems and pumps.
Electrical works have been completed, new flooring has been installed in the former dance studio and modern gym equipment has been provided, giving the community organisation the facilities it needs to establish a sustainable leisure centre.
The reopening means residents in Elswick and across Newcastle’s West End will once again have access to an affordable and inclusive local swimming and leisure facility.
The new community-led model will also create employment opportunities and work with Newcastle College to train 24 lifeguards.
Labour has worked with the community organisation and partners throughout the process, helping turn the campaign to save Elswick Pool into a practical plan for its long-term future.
The council has also formally transferred the facility to the community, giving local people a direct role in protecting and developing the pool for future generations.
Cllr John-Paul Stephenson, Labour Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Public Health, said: “I am thrilled to see that Elswick Pool has reached this important milestone and would like to thank the team of builders, developers and the local community for supporting this project.
“Elswick Pool is at the heart of the local community and once reopened will provide brilliant facilities for families and schools that will help them improve their health.
“The developments to date are a celebration of the work of the council and local volunteers who are taking a dedicated approach to bringing Elswick Pool back to life.”
For Newcastle Labour, the reopening demonstrates what can be achieved when the council works alongside determined local communities to protect important neighbourhood facilities.
Four years after its doors closed, Labour’s investment and partnership with the community has given Elswick Pool a new future and returned an important leisure facility to the heart of the West End.