Blow to families as leisure centre to close swimming pool in a bid to slash energy costs
A LEISURE centre is set to close one of its swimming pools in a push to cut energy costs.
Newquay Leisure World in Cornwall will temporarily pull the plug after feeling the pinch of soaring bills.
GLL will close the pool from the end of October until Easter 2024.
However, the centre will keep its 25m pool open during the winter months.
School activities will also be unaffected by the provisional closure.
GLL's head of service for Cornwall, James Curry, said it does not make commercial sense to run both pools over the winter.
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Social enterprise GLL hopes shelving the pool until next year will save about £30,000.
The current annual heating cost for Newquay Leisure World is estimated to cost £300,000.
The family-orientated tropical themed fun pool has features including a bubbly volcano, happy hippo flume, the extreme orange flume, the tippety-toppety bucket, Sally the slow snake and Sammy the spitting snake, according to its website.
Mr Curry said Newquay Leisure World has "very high maintenance costs" due to the age and set up of the building.
"Energy costs trebled in 2022 and though they have started to fall, it does not make commercial sense to have our leisure pool fully operational when it is only used at weekends.
"Based on normal winter demand, there will still be plenty of availability for all our customers and, by operating more efficiently, the centre will be doing its bit for the environment.
"Sustainability is key to our good housekeeping approach and running two pools over the colder months simply isn't a viable, or responsible, option."
“Fitness Swimmer and Learn to Swim members will still be provided for, but there will also be plenty of weekend family swimming, inflatable and children’s party sessions."
It comes after a huge discount chain with more than 800 branches will close all stores on Boxing Day this year.
Poundland will be pulling down the shutters on all of its shops in order to give staff a "well-earned break".