‘Pool in the park’ bid gains public support

A CAMPAIGN to see an open-air swimming pool brought back to Rivacre Valley is gathering pace, according to its organiser.

Details of part-time soldier Nigel Hunt’s battle to see a new “pool in the park” replace Ellesmere Port’s doomed EPIC leisure centre were revealed in the Pioneer a couple of weeks ago.

But Mr Hunt, an inspector at Shell Stanlow and Territorial Army warrant officer, doesn’t simply want to see a revival of the old outdoor baths which were bulldozed in 1985.

He wants to see a new, heated pool to become the centrepiece of a major leisure complex complete with a boating and fishing lake and an adventure park.

The Afghanistan war veteran hit upon the idea after reading in the Pioneer that the borough council was seeking a suitable site for a replacement for the EPIC where repairs to the crumbling building are reckoned to be too costly.

In our paper two weeks ago, he invited members of the public and councillors to give him their support.

This week Mr Hunt said: “Thanks for the write-up in the Pioneer – I have had quite a response. The supporters list is growing every week.

“I will be sending out petition lists this week to all the supporters so they can gather names. The petition will be asking for the new sports facility to be located at the site of the old baths incorporating not only the all-year-round swimming baths/water park but a fishing/boating lake, a running track along with a gym facility and other sports.”

He added: “I have had local residents by the site telling me it is a great idea and fully supporting us. We are calling it the Rivacre Valley Sports Complex.

“We will present the petition to the council at a suitable time. I have asked local councillors for their support but had little response, so we will be asking them for a meeting to give them our opinions and ask them why they cannot support the idea.

“If there are any local companies who wish to support us in any way, they can contact me.”

Mr Hunt can be e-mailed at mxmm762@hotmail.com. or through the Pioneer at pioneer@cheshirenews.co.uk.