Council keeps Weatherley 50m pool vision alive

Plans to rule out a 50m pool on the King Alfred site on Hove seafront have been modified following a plea from Mike Weatherley, the Conservative MP for Hove and Portslade to Brighton & Hove Council’s Policy & Resources Committee.

Mike urged councillors to research further the topic of pool sizes before dismissing his proposal for a 50m pool. He was backed in the chamber by Mark Cannon, Chairman of the highly successful Shiverers swimming club which meets regularly at the King Alfred.

Mike’s deputation follows the release of a cross-party Project Board which recommended that only a 25m pool should be built. Mike pointed out to councillors that a flexible 50m pool costs approximately the same and takes up the same amount of space as a series of smaller pools, and that it is far more flexible.

Mike said:

“I am delighted that Councillors of all parties on the Policy & Resources Committee supported my plea to keep the 50m pool option alive. My own Conservative colleagues, Greens and Labour all saw fit to properly consider the evidence by listening to residents and swimmers. Nobody can quite believe that Brighton & Hove was going to rule out a decent pool, when Crawley and other smaller places have one. A 50m pool is the right approach.”