As thousands flock to the North East coast to enjoy the region’s stunning beaches this summer, a dedicated campaign group has refreshed calls to restore an iconic part of Tynemouth’s seafront.
Now almost a century old, Tynemouth’s Outdoor Pool was first opened to the public back in 1924. The pool was built to give people a safe space to swim away from the cold North Sea, and quickly became an iconic highlight of the North East coast.
The attraction spent decades as a popular spot for locals and holidaymakers, before falling into disrepair by the 1990s. The buildings around the pool were demolished, and the pool itself was filled in - but for those local to the North East coast, the remains of the pool that are still there today at the southern end of Long Sands beach will be a familiar sight.
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One group has spent the past 10 years tirelessly campaigning to restore the pool to its former glory. The Friends Of Tynemouth Outdoor Pool committee has worked on a detailed proposal to regenerate the venue, enlisting the help of experts including architects and surveyors to draw up plans.
The group hopes to bring a modernised version of the outdoor pool back to Tynemouth, similar to others across the UK that have proven to be a big hit with locals - comparing the plans for Tynemouth to Gourock Outdoor Pool in Inverclyde, Scotland, which underwent a major improvement project in 2011. The plans have garnered huge support from the local community, with a Facebook page dedicated to the rejuvenation of the pool gaining more than 16,000 likes.
The campaign has presented their plans to North Tyneside Council - but the project has long been stuck at the planning stage according to members, who say that they have been “going around in circles” with the Council for the last decade over the pool. They hope to get the plans for the pool's regeneration onto the Council’s Planning Committee Agenda so that planning permission can be obtained - but they say that the Council is yet to include the pool on the Agenda.
The campaign group launched a Community Shares scheme back in 2016, and say that they received enough pledges from members of the public keen to see the pool brought back to life to raise half a million pounds - but fundraising can’t go ahead until planning permission is received. Member Peter Coulson says that he has written to councillors and his local MP to try to move the plans forward.
A long-time resident of Tynemouth himself who made regular use of the pool in the 80s as a member of a triathlon club, Peter says of the pool’s current state: “I’m quite appalled at the way the Council, as the owners of the pool, have allowed it to degenerate into such a mess.”
John Sparkes, Director of Regeneration and Economic Development at North Tyneside Council, said: “The Council is currently considering two planning applications for the refurbishment, renovation and reinstatement of existing structures at Tynemouth outdoor pool, and the outline consent for the construction of a new building.
“Since being submitted to the Council, we have been working with the Friends Group to resolve some of the complex issues associated with the former pool structure which is also located within the Tynemouth Conservation Area.”
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