Waterside Community Trust, the local Charity operating Waterside Swimming Pool in Ryde, has announced their refurbished changing rooms have been declared officially open.
On Wednesday 3rd December, the Centre had a visit from H.M. Lord-Lieutenant Mrs Susie Sheldon JP to officially open the changing rooms, marking the successful completion of a whole host of improvement works at the Centre this year.
Also present was Steven Holbrooke, Chair of Ryde Neighborhood Board, Ward Councilor Michael Lilley, Alan Short of Acorn Design & Build, the main contractor, Stuart Sayce of ERMC, the project management company engaged to oversee the transformational works together with Trustees and of course Todd Miller the pool’s General Manager and staff.
This year the Centre underwent a full refurbishment of the changing rooms and replacement roof, alongside energy saving upgrades with the fitment of a new pool heater, solar panels and a building management system.
The hope is that these works will futureproof the Centre, by reducing energy consumption and ensuring the changing facilities are fit for purpose. The new changing rooms are a vast improvement from the ones it replaced, providing a much-improved visitor experience.
All in all, the various projects were part of a £600,000 investment in the Centre.
The official opening also gave the Charity an opportunity to thank all the contractors involved, primarily Alan from Acorn Interiors and Stuart from ERMC, who were instrumental in the project’s success.
Many people might think that the swimming pool is either a local council or leisure company owned facility, but the truth is very different.
In 2011 a small group of local people took a long lease of the pool after it was threatened with closure and have been responsible for its operation ever since. With a small start up grant of just £16,000 grant from Isle of Wight Council it was a truly daunting task since operating costs were estimated at £1000 per week.
Ian Jenkins, the group’s first chairman, was heard to remark:
“If we can keep it going for a few months we will have achieved something a bit special!”
A registered charity since 2017, Waterside Community Trust (WCT) is super proud of its excellent staff team ably led by Todd Miller and with what has been achieved across the years. The swimming pool is financially independent and able to teach large numbers of local children the vital skill of swimming as well as providing seasonal beach life guarding in Ryde and Sandown.
In the new year the Charity hopes to raise funds to continue the refurbishment works into their disabled changing facility, alongside disabled parking provision.
Well done. What a great facility and amazing staff!