500 signatures reached
To: Central Bedfordshire Council
RE-OPEN HENLOW SWIMMING POOL
Please sign this petition to get RAF Henlow Swimming pool re-opened. Following failure of a boiler, Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) (the facility owners) decided to decommission the swimming pool ahead of the planned Station Closure of 2020. Funding to replace a boiler has been identified by a community group, but DIO have not responded to an offer of community assistance.
Why is this important?
RAF Henlow swimming pool has been open and operating in its current form since 1999. Established to train Aircrew in dingy escape drills for the RAF Centre of Aviation (RAF CAM), outside of normal working hours, Mrs Diane Evans established a Swimming Club for Armed Forces Children (Blue Sharks). Later in 2000, she established a Swimming Club for the local Civilian Community (Seahorse Swim School), She used her influence to obtain use of the facility by Biggleswade Swimming Club and 3 local lower schools. She established Lifesaving Club and a Rookie Lifesaving Club. Under her stewardship London University Air Sqn, the Local Air Training Corps and Bedfordshire Police have had routine use of the facility. Records show that community service provided by the RAF Henlow Swimming Pool has involved in excess of 6000 children and young people learning to swim. At the time of closure, the established swimming /lifesaving clubs had approx. 500 active members. Relocation is proving impossible. There is an enormous demand for the facility to be taken into community operation especially in light of the rapidly growing population fuelled by the planned and approved increase in local housing development.
