Cowfold community swimming pool set to reopen after lockdown

A swimming pool - built in a South Downs village as a memorial to three local men - is getting set to reopen after lockdown.
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Cowfold Community Pool, opened in 1969, has been in continuous use ever since.

It was built as a memorial to local men Brian Faires, Michael Harvey and George Stevens who tragically died in a sea accident on a day out at East Head, West Wittering, the previous year.

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The heated outdoor pool is located in Potters Green near St Peter’s Primary School in the village and it is planned to open again on April 2.

Cowfold community poolCowfold community pool
Cowfold community pool

It has been used mainly by the school for children’s swimming lessons, but was also open for public sessions during summer holidays, run by volunteers. Now it is planned to increase public sessions.

During the Covid pandemic, a small group of pool lovers joined together to create a charity responsible for preserving the pool and making it more accessible to the community.

Charity secretary and fundraiser Nina Humphreys said: “We opened the pool in the summer last year for private family bookings and we were overwhelmed with how popular it was.

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“The Covid pandemic has made people appreciate their local community more and the pool was able to improve not only people’s physical fitness, but also their mental health.”

It is now planned to open the pool seven days a week from April 2. “We hope to offer as many types of aquatic activities as possible to cater for all ages and abilities,” said Nina.

The charity is currently crowdfunding through Spacehive and previously received funding from the Blue Spark Foundation which enabled it to put on a course to train local young people as Emergency Pool Responders to work at the pool.

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