A survey is to be carried out on the future viability of returning Hendy Pool to use.

Financial assistance of £9,500 towards the study to investigate the development potential of the lido facility is being given by Carmarthenshire County Council.

The lido is beyond economic repair and would need to be replaced with a new structure costing £250,000, engineers have said.

Reports in recent years have suggested there is damage to the basin of the pool - which led to its closure - and patch up repairs of £100,000 would not offer a guarantee of lasting.

The council, in talks with the pool committee, has been trying to find a way forward. It has been agreed while the council cannot commit to being the lead organisation in delivering the pool back into use it will support the determined pool committee seeking funding for the project.

Council Executive Board member for leisure services, Clive Scourfield, said: "We are delighted to investigate the development potential of the pool in order to establish its sustainability as a community asset.

"The pool has been offered to the group at a peppercorn lease agreement with an additional offer to take on the surrounding park area."

Tenders have been invited from consultants to carry out the study which will be necessary should the group apply for grant funding to restore the pool.

A structural survey by Mott McDonald commissioned by the council established refurbishment costs to be £250,000.
Mr Scourfield said the pool was of historic and local importance but those taking on the task of its restoration would have to realise there would be issues of sustainability with running costs, maintenance and volunteer commitment over a period of time.

"Now that the group have dipped their toe in the water they can be sure the council will give them every support to access funding to achieve their ambitions.

"It is going to need a great deal of commitment from the hard working people in the community to realise their dream.
"In partnership with groups across the county the Council has successfully already completed 215 projects with more than £6.1m of European Objective 1 funding.

"The Hendy Pool group have to realise that while Objective 1 funding is coming to a close, new Convergence Funding opportunities are dawning.

"They also have to accept the site might be better used for alternative leisure amenity with the pool and park area to be developed into a space where young and old can enjoy."

If the Hendy Lido facility if returned it will become only the second open air pool facility in Wales. The other one also in Carmarthenshire at Brynamman has just opened for the school summer holidays which has done for more than 70 years.

This article was from carmarthenshire county council.