THE Weardale Open Air Swimming pool is undergoing a clean and tidy in preparation for its re-opening.
Work is progressing and a man from Crook has been giving his time to help for free. Anthony Wilkinson who runs High Farm External Cleaning has given many hours of his time to clean the pool and has also started on the roof too although that is not complete yet. RA Dalton from Cowshill will be clearing the deep end of the pool later on too.
The popular pool, the only one heated outdoor pool in the county, is popular with locals and visitors alike. It closed down three years ago but a committee of local volunteers was formed who have been working hard behind the scenes to re-open it to the public. Anthony, who attended Wolsingham School, wanted to help bring that hope to fruition and so volunteered his specialist services.
“I would like to see the pool open again and I know lots of other who do too so, seeing as it’s charitable enterprise, I offered to help,” he said.
The Weardale Open Air Swimming Pool was built in 1974 and in recent years has fallen into disrepair. A working group of local people keen to ensure the future of the pool have managed to renegotiate a 30 year lease and are in the process of trying to raise funds to completely refurbish the pool. A Facebook page – (5) Weardale Open Air Swimming Pool Refurbishment Project | Facebook was set up to keep the public informed of their progress and to give regular updates. The group is always on the lookout for more volunteers so if you feel that you can help support the pool in any way please do contact them.
Their mission is to transform the community open-air swimming pool into a safe, welcoming, sustainable, and accessible space that promotes health, wellbeing, recreation, and social connection for people of all ages. Through thoughtful refurbishment, we aim to preserve the pool’s community heritage while creating a modern facility that inspires year-round enjoyment, encourages active lifestyles, and strengthens local pride for generations to come
If you would like to support this initiative financially, please do so by donating to: https://www.justgiving.com/charity/Stanhope-Swimming-Pool
Watch out for more details and in the meantime, if you would like to help, go along and see what you can do.
