A community swimming pool in Axminster, part of the town for 30 years, is set to hand control over to the district council to safeguard its future amid funding fears.
The trustees of the Flamingo Community Pool said the move was prompted by spiralling running costs, resulting in higher outgoings than income.
The charity’s trustees held talks with the district council to take over running the pool as part of the authority’s review of its leisure centres, saying the move will safeguard swimming in Axminster for at least a decade.
A spokesperson for the Flamingo Community Pool trustees said: “It is sad for us that we have to hand it over, but there is a great amount of goodwill on both sides to get this delivered.
“The council is aware and hopeful that the ethos and community spirit we have is maintained as much as is possible.
“The fact there will be a pool in Axminster for the foreseeable future is something that is more important for the community than who runs it.”
Steve Buxton, pool manager, said: “At the moment, our running costs are higher than our income, even before utilities are taken into account.
“This means the pool is finding it increasingly difficult to continue operating independently, despite the fantastic support we continue to receive from the public.”
The changeover is expected to start in January 2027, and until then fans of the pool aim to hold multiple fundraising dates throughout the year to help with the day-to-day running costs, including a large community event planned for Saturday, August 1.
Donations can also be made through the pool’s website, using a dedicated QR code, or by calling in and speaking to staff.
The Paypal QR code to donate to the Flamingo Community Pool fundraising efforts.
Gareth Parker, vice chair of trustees, said: “Every donation, big or small, will help keep the Flamingo Community Pool open until a long‑term solution is in place.”
The move to relinquish control of the town’s swimming pool was sparked by a public meeting at the start of February, where trustees and staff held talks with residents about the future of the facility.
Learning how East Devon District Council was reviewing how its leisure services were run, inviting tenders, trustees of the Flamingo Community Pool held talks to include it in the bid.
The vice chair of trustees said the pool had been part of the town for more than 27 years, and annually was used by more than 40,000 swimmers.
The pool, a registered charity, does not receive any regular public money and relies on community fundraising to operate.
Mr Parker said since the pandemic running costs had ‘risen sharply’, including energy bills and staff wages.
He said staff and trustees had applied for grants and made improvements to the building and pool to help ease the financial pressure
Mr Parker said: “In the last two years the pool has installed solar panels on all roof areas, improved pumps and filters, switched to LED lighting and installed new boilers.These changes have helped reduce running costs, but overall expenses are still rising faster than income.
“While looking at long‑term options, the trustees became aware that East Devon District Council is reviewing how its leisure services are run, with a new form of contract expected to start in January 2027 following a competitive tender process.
“After discussions with the council, Flamingo Community Pool has been included in this tender.
“This would mean Axminster keeps a swimming pool for at least the next ten years and links the pool into the council’s wider plans for leisure services across East Devon.
“Although this has been a very difficult decision, the trustees believe it offers the best long‑term future for swimming in the town.”
