Thursday, August 31, 2000

Keen swimmers from Swansea to Ammanford have been taking the plunge in Hendy after residents splashed out thousands of pounds to restore their outdoor pool.

A massive fund-raising campaign saw villagers raise in excess of £8,000 to help re-open the facility.

Since it opened in May it has proved such a big draw for people from across South West Wales that sign post are being put up to help visitors from outside the area.

Hendy Pool committee chairman Derek Lyon said: “People have been coming from all over – from Ammanford and Swansea. All the hard work has certainly paid off.”

“The weather has been the problem but when it has been nice the pool is absolutely full.”

Last year the pool closed because of some structural problems and Carmarthenshire Council offered some cash but only if residents did their bit.

The community staged dozens of events to raise and Llanedi Community Council also came up trumps.

May saw the official opening and it’s been packed every sunny day since.

“In many ways it is a focal point of the community in the summer” added Mr Lyon.

“It’s a family pool and there are plenty of mothers and fathers with their children – it has become a meeting place for the community.”

“It is exactly as we wanted it to be.”