Does the Island have too many pools?

Does the Island have too many swimming pools?

Community swimming pools have long been shrouded in controversy.

In October of last year, Tynwald approved an increase to the gas tariff - a factor cited by swimming pool boards as the major contributor to an overall rise in operational costs.

When community swimming pool operators reached out to the Department of Education, Sport and Culture to increase their annual swimming pool subvention accordingly, they were told no further funding would be available for the coming financial year.

In a letter to the manager of the Western Swimming Pool, Minister Julie Edge advised the board to ‘consider a consultation with its Local Authorities to increase rates’.

Each community swimming pool operates independently, but their reactions were similar.

Minister Julie Edge responded to their comments: