Formerly cool Chessington school takes plunge on swimming pool tendering

The winning bidder will pay for refurbishing the pool and for maintaining it in the future.

The resulting construction should conform to the Government’s Sport England requirements, the school said.

Last October, as hirers of the pool started a petition to try to prevent its closure, the school sent text messages to parents asking them not to sign.

The school had said there was no money available to continue running the pool.

Under the new plans, neither Castle Hill nor Kingston Council will provide funding for the project, according to the school’s appeal for bids.

Andy Down, director of Splish Splash Swim School, had previously expressed interest in the pool.

He said: “It is positive the school is looking to keep it open, but it is disappointing this was not done earlier.

“When the school first said it was struggling to keep it going we offered to sit down with them.”

He said he had his “fingers crossed” he could get involved.

Chessington councillor Patricia Bamford said: “It is good the school wants to carry on managing the pool site and it is keen to get people to bid to restore the pool. They are being supported by the council.”

Fellow Chessington councillor Andrew Day said: “If it is going ahead I am fully in favour of the pool staying open – it is definitely needed in this part of the borough.”

Colin Punch, chairman of the Chessington District Residents’ Association, said the tender process was a positive step.

He said: “It is something the community really needs around here.

“It is really part of the community because my daughter first started to swim there and lots of children have learned to swim there.

“I just hope, when it is built, the cost to go in there is not too much.”

It was recently announced that primary schools in the borough will be awarded money from a £150m Government pot to improve their sports provision.