By Isle of Wight Observer
Waterside Community Trust, the charity which operates Waterside swimming pool, in Ryde, has opened its refurbished changing rooms following a programme of improvement works at the centre.
The opening took place on Wednesday, December 3, when the centre was visited by the Island’s Lord-Lieutenant, Susie Sheldon, who formally declared the facilities open.
Also attending were Steven Holbrook, chairman of Ryde Neighbourhood Board, Cllr Michael Lilley, main contractor Alan Short of Acorn Design & Build, and project manager Stuart Sayce of ERMC, along with trustees, staff, and pool general manager, Todd Miller.
This year the centre has seen a full refurbishment of its changing rooms, a replacement roof and the installation of a new pool heater, solar panels, and a building management system, to reduce energy consumption, and ensure the facilities remain fit for purpose. The improvements form part of a £600,000 investment in the centre.
Waterside swimming pool has been community-run since 2011, when a group of local people took on a long lease after the pool faced closure, supported by a start-up grant of £16,000 from the IW Council.
The first chairman, Ian Jenkins, later recalled: “If we can keep it going for a few months we will have achieved something a bit special.”
Now a registered charity, Waterside Community Trust employs a staff team, led by Todd Miller. It provides swimming lessons for local children and seasonal beach lifeguarding in Ryde and Sandown, and hopes to raise funds next year to improve disabled changing facilities and provide additional disabled parking.