Rescue plan for Girvan pool

Dec 4 2009 by Edwin Lawrence, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

A PRIVATE rescue plan for Girvan swimming pool is to be put to townspeople.

But its success will depend on the council who dramatically shut the pool a year ago.

Retired businessman Iain Brown is calling a public meeting in Girvan.

And he will present a fully-costed revamp plan for the pool.

Mr Brown this week revealed a mystery benefactor is prepared to help.

He can’t yet announce the benefactor’s name, but he said ‘considerable funding’ would be put into the project.

However, everything depends on pool owners South Ayrshire Council, who closed the 1970s-build pool for health and safety reasons.

Mr Brown said: “Swimming pools don’t make money.

“But Cumnock, for instance, has a pool run by a private company, but with considerable help from East Ayrshire Council.

“And Kirkcudbright also has a privately-run pool, with assistance from Dumfries and Galloway Council.

“So I would expect South Ayrshire Council to make some kind of effort on Girvan’s behalf.”

Mr Brown has won plaudits for the part he has played in the rescue of Ayr’s Gaiety Theatre.

And as founder and former owner of the Carrick Gazette newspaper he is acutely aware of Girvan’s current plight.

Mr Brown revealed how he backed off his rescue plan while South Ayrshire Council waited to see if a £2.75 million bid to the Scottish Government would be successful.

It wasn’t – but the council had Mr Brown’s plan even before the knock-back.

He phoned them in the aftermath of the regeneration bid failure.

“They told me they needed more time,” said Mr Brown.

“But they’ve had the plan six weeks, and we really need to move on this, as the pool has been closed nearly a year.”

Mr Brown has enlisted a volunteer committee of respected Girvan people including solicitor Stewart Sheddon, art shop boss George McGeehan, and retired distillery chemist Mike Webber.

The new look pool would have a gym, cafe and sauna facilities.

The public meeting will be in the South Parish Church Hall on Thursday, December 17 at 7pm.

A construction consultant and an architect will be there, and there will be a power point display on how Girvan pool could re-emerge as a community facility.

Ironically, South Ayrshire Council meets that very same day.

A council spokesperson said on Tuesday: “We can confirm we have received the information from Mr Brown, who has already met with a chief officer on this issue and a further meeting with Mr Brown to discuss the matter is scheduled for later this week.

“Our officers are currently working with the local community in Girvan to identify options for leisure facilities in the town and a paper outlining these options will be presented to a meeting of South Ayrshire Council on Thursday, December 17 for consideration by elected members.