SWIMMERS in Burnham have been rallying support from residents to try and save their pool. More than 800 signatures have been collected since Sedgemoor District Council announced the facility at Berrow Road could be shut

SWIMMERS in Burnham have been rallying support from residents to try and save their pool.

More than 800 signatures have been collected since Sedgemoor District Council announced the facility at Berrow Road could be shut to help plug a £1.8million funding gap.

The facility currently receives £250,000 from the council to subsidise running costs, which means council tax covers the price of £3.36 for each swim.

A survey carried out last month estimated an additional £2million will be needed to maintain the pool, which was built in 1974, over the next three years.

The closure could mean up to 50 job losses for workers at the pool and clubs, such as the Penguins Club for pensioners, Burnham Swimming Club and the Living Saving Club, could all lose their base.

A spokesman for the district council said: "Next year the pool would be in its 34th year of operation, the excepted life-span for this type of pool is usually 25 years, as defined by the industry.

"There are two publicly-funded pools within 12 miles of Burnham, Kings of Wessex Leisure Centre in Cheddar and Sedgemoor Splash in Bridgwater."

Sedgemoor District Council will be setting up a 'task and finish' group to report back by February 28 to seek alternative private companies to take over the responsibility and liability of running the pool. If none can be found, the closure will go ahead and the council will look at alternative provision for users, such as swimming clubs, which use the pool.