Swimming pool back in use
The swimming pool at The Priory City of Lincoln Academy has reopened following a £250,000 refurbishment.
Junior learners, primary schools, Lincoln Vulcans Swimming Club and Lincoln Canoe Club are already using the revamped facilities.
Now people living near the Skellingthorpe Road Academy are being surveyed to find out a preferred time for possible public swimming sessions.
The pool, built in the mid 1970s, was initially closed in July 2010 to allow the Priory Federation to replace underwater and poolside tiling, air conditioning and the pump and filtration system. It reopened for Academy PE lessons and limited Vulcans sessions in January 2011 but closed again in July to allow the next phase of work – office refurbishment, building re-cladding and new road access – to take place.
Since the pool reopened fully at the start of the new term, 95 children aged 4 to 16 have already signed up for after-school and weekend Junior Learn to Swim sessions run by the Academy. A disability group and three local primary schools are bringing daytime classes throughout the week, with another three schools due to arrive by the end of the academic year.
“The pool is a tremendous asset for the community as well as the Academy and we already have hundreds of people using it every week,” said Russell Fenton, the Academy’s Director of Sport. “Junior Learn to Swim has always been hugely popular, from beginners right through to lifesavers. One of our instructors this year is Tracey Sime, a former Olympic finalist.”
Headmaster Phil Ryland said: “As an Academy with a sports specialism, we are keen to provide as many sporting opportunities as possible for the whole community. We have now sent out a questionnaire to parents and pupils to try to gauge the best time for public swimming sessions.”
The Priory Federation is in talks with City of Lincoln Council over possible funding towards the cost of running such sessions, with a view to a launch – subject to viability – sometime in the New Year.
“Academies are not allowed to financially subsidise community sport,” said Mr Ryland. “However, the Federation will be liaising with the council once the results of the survey are known to see what can be arranged for the benefit of people in the area.”
Lincoln Vulcans chairman Dave Hendel, whose club uses the pool every weekday evening, said: “It’s an ideal training pool for us now and it’s good to have the water time available again. The pool area looks great and the new lane markings are a massive help.”
To book lessons, or enquire about pool hire, contact Julie McConnell-Wood on 01522 882800.
