A CONSULTATION exercise has been launched on plans to provide a public indoor swimming pool in Minehead for the first time in nearly 20 years.

It is being run by Minehead Swimming and Leisure Ltd (MSL), which has been invited by Sport England to put in a bid for ‘a large grant this summer’.

MSL now wants to hear people’s views on its proposals for a 25-metre pool and a gym as part of a ‘community leisure hub’.

It has recently started working in partnership with Minehead Health and Wellbeing (MHW), another group which has also been campaigning for a swimming pool .

The hub would be built on land Minehead Town Council has earmarked for it on the Irnham Road recreation ground.

This would allow it to gel with existing recreation facilities taking place in the neighbouring community centre, such as fitness classes, and the existing tennis courts, multi-use games area, children’s play area, and bowls club.

The year-round swimming pool could have a retractable roof to give an outdoor feel during the summer months.

MSL director Emma Child said: “Over recent months, our efforts to bring a 25-metre, indoor, public swimming pool to Minehead have gathered momentum.

“We are receiving a business planning grant, we are joining forces with another local health and wellbeing group, and Minehead Town Council are designating land at their recreation ground for a pool.

“Once built, the new pool and gym facility would be community-owned and would have to be economically viable in the long term.

“It is therefore important to us to get feedback from the local community, for use in our planning, design, and fund-raising efforts.”

Ms Child said the last local authority-run pool in Minehead closed in 2008, leaving West Somerset residents to travel to the nearest similar facilities in Taunton, Bridgwater, Barnstaple, or Tiverton.

She said this could be difficult, particularly for the elderly, large families, disabled people, and those in need of water-based therapy.

Ms Child said: “The public want their pool back and we think it should belong to the people of West Somerset.

“That is why, once built, the new pool and gym facility would be community-owned and run as a co-operative.

“It is now time for us to consult with the public about what they would want in a new swimming pool, as well as a new gym for the GP exercise referral NHS scheme.

“To that end we have launched a questionnaire for members of the public to fill in, the results of which will inform our more detailed, operational planning.

“This consultation allows everybody to have their say, and your response will help us to understand what local people want, so please fill in the questionnaire if you can.”

Ms Child said MSL and MHW were working together to fund-raise from a variety of grant funding sources, with new opportunities becoming available later in the year.

The survey can be accessed with a dedicated online portal, and a separate survey is available for under-18s by clicking a link.