Council approves new £5m Minsthorpe pool plan

The £5m facility will replace the former Minsthorpe Swimming Pool, which closed in April 2013.

Wakefield Council’s cabinet approved a proposal from the college to build the new pool at its meeting on Tuesday.

The college will run the pool, along with its existing leisure facilities, under a deal with the council.

Deputy council leader Denise Jeffery said: “It’s good news for the south east and has been long overdue.

“It shows we are interested and investing in the south east.”

Minsthorpe Swimming Pool closed in April last year because of maintenance problems. A crack was found in the pool and the pool filtration system was in poor condition

An investment of more than £1.2m was needed to fix the facility, and in June last year the council decided to close the pool permanently.

The Express backed a campaign by Minsthorpe Pool Action Group to have the pool reopened or have a new facility built in the area.

A report to Tuesday’s meeting said the council would pay £135,000 a year towards the new pool’s annual running costs, which represented a saving to the council of £200,000.

The council had already included £5m in its capital programme to fund the new pool.

The council also had discussions with town and parish councils and Hemsworth Arts and Community Academy on proposals for a new pool.

At the meeting, councillors voted to accept the proposal from Minsthorpe Community College in principle and ask council officers to draw up a formal agreement with the college.